[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2026]
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
Nicene Creed[1]
Do you ever thank God just for being God? It is relatively easy to pray for certain blessings that we think we need, or even to give thanks for what we have received so far, but prayers of adoration seem to require a special effort. Our minds wander and our thoughts digress as we try to find words that describe a God who is beyond description.
A few Sundays ago Phil Hughes introduced us to the concept of what might be called a subtractive meditation.[2] In his example he took the well-known verse from a psalm attributed to the sons of Korah:
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46 v10 [ESVUK]
Phil’s suggestion was to read the key phrase several times, removing the final word on each repetition and allowing the remaining words to guide our thoughts.
Be still, and know that I am God. Our vocabulary is inadequate to describe God, and therefore our thoughts and words also fall short.
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isaiah 46 v9 [ESVUK]
Be still, and know that I am. This phrase ends with the name that God gave himself when talking to Moses. To add anything else to this name would be to reduce its impact and scope.
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3 v14 [ESVUK]
Be still, and know that I. This phrase offers a change of focus, allowing us to recognise our own inadequacy and hopelessness in the sight of an almighty God.
Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes; how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!
Job 25 v5-6 [ESVUK]
Be still, and know that. Despite our unworthiness there is a way for mankind’s relationship with God to be re-established.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3 v16 [ESVUK]
Be still, and know. We can know salvation as a personal experience by placing our faith in Jesus, who came to save his people from their sins.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
1 Corinthians 12:27 [ESVUK]
Be still, and. This unfinished phrase carries an air of expectancy; it begs the question “what are we waiting for?” Salvation requires a response, a demonstration of our new relationship with God.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13 v16 [ESVUK]
Be still. These words can suggest a period of calmness as we meditate on what we have recognised about God, and our relationship with him.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
Psalm 37 v7 [ESVUK]
Be. This single word gives us assurance and confidence as we recall that the Almighty God, who said “Let there be” and there was, has not forgotten us.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God.
Psalm 139 v17 [ESVUK]
References:
[1] https://anglicansonline.org/basics/nicene.html
[2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmvGq1wc95c&t=1107s
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys