Be still . . . and know, Part III

Thanks for coming back again during this "praise week" here at the study blog. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and refresh our perception of the awesome God we serve . . . so this week we are praising Him for the characteristics He shows. We are trying to be still and know Him better.

One of the running jokes among folks who deal with computers every day is that many things that trouble us and frustrate us about these machines can be "fixed" by simply resetting them.  Some people call it a reboot. Information technology technicians routinely tell others to push the button, turn off the machine, and then turn it on again. Be it a computer, a router, a modem, or a smartphone, many times it works! A reboot can cure what ails them . . . if the phone is hung up on an application, or if the computer is running slowly and inefficiently, rebooting will sometimes make things operate like new.

We need to allow our Lord to reboot our mind, our will, and our emotions each morning before engaging in our daily activities. (Or sometimes in the middle of the day, too!) In this way, God can remove things in our hearts that would cause us great harm if we continued to go on with it, just like a virus in that computer. We know that one word from Him can reset all things in their proper position and place.

"Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms fall, he lifts his voice and the earth melts." (Psa 46:6)

The God we serve is infinitely above all of the enemies who may seek to steal, kill or destroy those who are His. And He is perfectly capable of resetting the order in His favor, when we call upon Him to deliver us. He can reboot us, and He can reboot our circumstances, as well. We can praise Him that He is there for us.

Another praise-worthy characteristic of our God is that He tells us ahead of time, what will happen in the future. He reveals things to us, so that we can learn to trust Him and be unafraid. There is no doubt from the scriptures we can read, that God will be exalted in all the nations, and in the whole earth. And He is interested in a close relationship with us. He reveals Himself to us:

 "He who has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by My Father and I will love them and will reveal myself (disclose, manifest) to him. (I will let myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.) John 14:21

And He reveals what is ahead: the entire sixteenth chapter of John's gospel contains the words of Jesus, as He tells us what the future holds for His children. He tells us about the future, and then He tells us not to lose heart:

 “So you believe in me now?” replied Jesus. “The time is coming, indeed, it has already come, when you will be scattered, every one of you going home and leaving me alone. Yet I am not really alone for the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may find your peace in me. You will find trouble in the world—but, never lose heart, I have conquered the world!”

Heaven and earth will pass away but my word will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

Have you heard the expression, "not operating on all cylinders"? An engine which is not using all of its cylinders is sputtering and popping and coughing and well, you get the point. It's not running well, and it doesn't have the power that it could have.
We must learn to trust and obey God in all things so that we can see more of Him revealed. We can have greater intimacy with our Lord, and that will allow us to experience His power in our lives -- we'll be running on all cylinders!