selah

sometimes i get so busy that i don't even remember to brush my teeth (i know. that's gross) , not to mention spend time with God.

though i intend to pray regularly, i just don't always "fit it in" to my schedule. i think we all get carried away and lose touch with God. it almost seems impossible to pray "unceasingly" as we're told to. there's so much to do, and it's almost as if we've conditioned ourselves to the noise.

i recently read an article about football in the sec. it was talking about the constant drills and conditioning that those players endure every week. sure, they run the normal passing routes and running drills. they watch videos and go over strategies and gameplans... in order to be totally prepared for the "big" game full of screaming fans and countless distractions, however; they practice with 300dbs of white noise pumping through the speakers. that's equivalent to two jet engines lighting up in their ears.

they do this to condition themselves so that they can play the game under the noise.

we live in a world that requires us to "keep up" despite the destractions and "noise" that is thrown our way... and there's alot of it. we're so used to it that when it actually is silent, we don't know what to do... it gives me a headache. i even sleep with a box fan in my room for the noise it makes.

God tells us to be still.
but if we're still we'll lose our place... we'll get lost...
God tells us to consider the sparrows.
but how can we know that it'll work out? how can we be sure?
God says to have faith.

that's what it all comes down to really... faith.
it's hard to believe in something that you won't even give the time of day to that you give to watching "dancing with the stars". do we really believe, or do we just hope?

we're told to be still... slow down... to stop and recognize that He is God. He is in control... He loves you and wants the best for you.

Sometimes He will get our attention by slapping us accross the face and yelling "HERE I AM... LISTEN TO ME!" but most of the time He desires for us to "seek first His kingdom" and listen... not to the thunder or the wind or the crashing and clanging all around us. He wants us to believe. He wants us to hear Him whisper in our ear. He wants us to stop and recognize.

the early jews understood this.

if you pick up a bible and flip open to psalms, you'll find a word used 74 times that hasn't been translated from its original hebrew... "selah".

selah isn't written in the actual lyical content of the psalms, but its used as a musical instruction... much like a refrain or a pause. it means to "be still and recognize".

they would sing a chorus and then stop... in silence they would dwell on God and what they just sang about. they would seek Him out in the silence.

why is that so hard?

the most important event in history is so personal and open and inviting to us, but we turn up the radio...

turn it down, and consider the significance of the relationship He desires if you'll only listen.

selah

to the blood that was shed
to the life that He lead
to the price that was paid
i am a slave

at the foot of the cross
for the light to the lost
for the ultimate strife
i give my life to you
i give my life to you

selah...
God is good
selah...
He promised He would
take away the sins of the world
and He did
selah...

for the blessings You give
for the lessons i live
for each breath that i take
i sing you praise today
i sing you praise today

selah...
God is good
selah...
He promised He would
take away the sins of the world
and He did
selah...

be still and know God is in this place
His Spirit, He fills this empty space
so let your heart pour out his praise... forever

selah...
God is good
selah...
He promised He would
take away the sins of the world
and He did
selah...