Because of technology we have more tools to enable us to do things faster. The problem that arises is that we can become so busy that we fail to see the simple beauty. Jesus spoke of the lilies of the field (Matt. 6:28) Sometimes because we are so busy we seldom take the time to notice the little flowers growing by the roadside. We travel down a road, and there is a little cross signifying where someone had died in a car wreck. There may be flowers all around but our attention is drawn to a little cross by the roadside.
Sometimes early in the morning on my back porch, I enjoy my cup of coffee as our part of the world begins to wake up. I watch and listen as the sounds of birds begins to fill the air. I have two plates on the ground where I feed the birds. The other morning a squirrel was enjoying the bird seed with his tail covering his head and back. The little birds kept diving at his hear as he quietly took care of eating “their food”. Two rabbits were chasing each other all over the yard. A look into the sky and see the movement of clouds as the wind does its work.
All of us can stop and see the simple things in life that remind us about life itself. The ultimate joy must be in realizing who caused the little things. God, the Creator and the sustainer of life demonstrates His care for our planet and deep love for us (Gen. 1;1; I Cor. 1:24; Matt. 6:30). It is vital to know all the creatures, big and small that are around us come from the laws that God put into motion. The creation of the Sabbath day was as much for reflection as it was for rest. Man pausing under the Mosaical law to cease from his work and think of God (Ex. 20:8-11).
It truly goes beyond just one day as we are reminded in the psalms. The Holy Spirit has David to write and tell us to stand in awe, that is of God and sin not (Psa. 4:4). The call in this verse was for the faithful Hebrew to commune with his own heart upon his own bed. It even follows to explain where this takes place. It would be as the child of God would pillow his head for sleep. The next words which follow are, “be still”. Do we go to bed at night with our minds filled with all the stress of the day compounded by the things which we dread about tomorrow? Jesus pulls our attention to this day and this day alone. He states, take no thought for the morrow (Matt. 6:34).
Several chapters later in the book of Psalms, the child of God was told to be still and know that God is. He who brings to our hearts and minds, the simple little things of life by which we are to appreciate all that God has done and is doing for us. The earlier passage (4:4) was about when the day’s activities were coming to end. This passage would look at the faithful one and tell him to be still, pause and know that the Lord is God. It is not that we ignore our schedules but rather from time to time to slow down and know where all the things come from which makes us so busy.
Later on in Psalms 76:8, the idea is the judgment of God was passed on humanity. The things man relied on for strength could not bring peace. God broke the arrow, bow, shield and sword (verse 3). The promise of the way things would be under Christ is seen as God’s children would learn war no more (Isa. 2:4). Their lives would be lived out under the rule of the Prince of Peace.
No matter how busy or successful we are or what great things we may achieve, there should always be in our hearts the willingness to be still and know what we have received from God (I Thess. 5:18). The sacrifice of our lips giving thanks to God should become a natural part of our spiritual existence (Heb. 13:15). Being still is not being idle, it is pausing, bowing our heads and thanking God for all He has given and is doing for us.