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October 2
Sunday


HANDS OFF!

READ:
Psalm 46
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Be still, and know
that I am God.
__Psalm 46
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I remember bobbing for apples when I was a child, a game that required me to have my hands tied behind my back. Trying to grab a floating apple with my teeth without the use of my hands was a frustrating experience. It reminded me of the vital importance of our hands__we eat with them, greet with them, and use them to do just about anything that is vital to our existence.

When I read Psalm 46:10, I find it interesting that God says, "Be still, and know that I am God." The Hebrew word for "still" means to "cease striving," or, literally, "to put our hands at our side." At first glance this seems to be a rather risky piece of advice, since our first instinct in trouble is to keep our hands on the situation and control it to our advantage. God in essence is saying, "Hands off! Let Me deal with your problem, and rest assured that the outcome is in My hands."

But knowing when to take our hands off and let God work can make us feel vulnerable. Unless, that is, we believe that God is indeed "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (v.1) and that "the LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (v.7). In the midst of trouble, we can rest in God's care. __Joe Stowell

``````````````````````Lord, forgive me for always wanting`````````````````````
``````````````````````````to manage my own affairs.``````````````````````````
``````````````Teach me to trust in Your wise and timely intervention``````````````
````````````````in my life and to keep my hands out of Your way.`````````````````
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**********************************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 46**********************************

1 God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help
in trouble. 2 Therefore we
will not fear, even though
the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the
sea; 3 though its waters roar
and be troubled, though the
mountains shake with its
swelling.

4 There is a river whose
streams shall make glad the
city of God, the holy place
of the tabernacle of the
Most High. 5 God is in the
midst of her, she shall not
be moved; God shall help
her, just at the break of
dawn. 6 The nations raged,
the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the
earth melted.

7 the LORD of hosts is
with us; the God of Jacob is
our refuge.

8 Come, behold the works
of the LORD, who has made
desloations in the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to
the end of the earth; He
breaks the bow and cuts the
spear in two; He burns the
chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I
am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be
exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is
with us; the God of Jacob is
our refuge

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

We often think of this passage in times of busyness and stress, and
we emphasize that the stillness means "to cease striving." But the
imagery in verses 2-4 and 8-9 (the destruction of the earth and
the weapons of war) suggests that even when self-peservation is
the aim, our hands should be at our sides and our trust should be
in God.


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