Each week we feature a devotional, book review or testimony ~ a “Devotional Spotlight”, written by a woman in our ministry. We hope you are blessed in reading Kellye’s devotional as she shares how the Lord spoke to her during a recent winter storm. What a wonderful reminder to “be still and know that He is God.”
“Be Still”
As I gaze out my window at the new fallen snow, I begin to pray, “Father, what do you want me to learn through this snow storm? Give me something in this moment besides a gorgeous winter wonderland to marvel at”. Although it is gorgeous- with snow on every branch, I am reminded that the God of universe says to us “Be still. Be still and know that I am God” the very thing that I have struggled with lately.
As the mom of a 3.5 year old I am constantly on the go. With very few moments of quiet or silence anymore. Fleeting moments of stillness come in the early morning or late at night. But during the day, stillness is not what I experience. So in this moment I sit; to hear from Him and I am listening.
I embrace the stillness. And then, I begin to think back to THAT rock. The one I was given at the recent Women’s Conference, “Breathless”. The word that exemplifies what pulls me away from time with the Lord. The word reveals my need- to slow down and reflect.
Busyness.
Christy Nockels sings,
You revive me
You revive me Lord
And all my deserts are rivers of joy
You are the treasure I could not afford
So I’ll spend myself till I’m empty and poor
All for You
You revive me Lord.
The snow, as it anchors us to our homes, is a gift. A moment ordained for me to be still- and be revived. And I quietly pray. So many things to be thankful for-thanking God for every gift-grace upon grace. I am reminded of the things that I take for granted each day. Today, I am thankful. and seeing it all as His sweet grace. I can see His hand at work in every detail-both inside my heart and outside my window.
And there is freedom– Freedom to spend unhurried time with my family, and my son, breathing gratitude to God for this break- no rushing- not in a hurry. Taking it all in- moment by moment. And I can sense His sovereign hand in it all. He ordains breaks for us when we do not allow them for ourselves. Even in the form of an ice storm.
And I look out once more and see the white. The ground almost completely covered. Covered in a blanket of beautiful crystals. And I can sense a purity in the crystals. I am reminded that the Lord says in Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Although we know our own hearts very intimately, and we sense many places that we are not proud of. We know the feeling of guilt and shame from previous decisions and actions all too well. But, He is making us new. He is cleansing each of those areas completely. He sees us as forgiven, clean. When we trust Christ and follow Him, He gives us His righteousness. It is transferred directly to us. What an awesome promise.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.”
Just like the ground is covered outside in snow. We are also covered-our sins are covered, forgotten, forgiven. We are covered in red-crimson-which works to colors us as white as new fallen snow. I look out my window and whisper “thank you”. You truly are the treasure I could never afford. Thank you that I am bought at a price, remembering the great price He paid. Thank you for this moment of rest. To be still. To know that you are God. You revive me Lord.
Psalms 85:6 “Will you not revive us again: that your people may rejoice in you?”
