AN INVITATION

It was a beautiful sunny fall afternoon as I headed for a long-awaited weekend retreat at one of my holy places. How grateful I am for this place and the people who minister there who are family to me. After a two-year break from a weekend retreat because of the pandemic, it was extra special to be back.

Toward the end of my ride there, I started playing random songs from the 1,019 songs on the flash drive in my car. The last three songs I let play consecutively. The final song that played as I pulled into the retreat center was “Be Still.”

It has been many months since I’ve played that song! I took it as an invitation from the Lord to indeed “Be Still” and experience Him during the weekend in the quiet. I felt led to eat my meals with just the Lord and His Word in a quiet room rather than in the dining room with the others. I shared the story with the office manager when I arrived.

 

The sunrise over Canandaigua Lake, NY

 

After getting my belongings settled in my room, I went outside for the hour before the retreat officially started. I noticed the stillness of the lake water. It was so peaceful and perfectly calm. There was a fishing boat still in the water before eventually heading into shore before it got dark. At the forest-like area in the distance, I could see two then three deer eating and looking at me. They were just calmly grazing and looking all around. There were the peaceful sounds of some birds and peepers.

 

 

 

The horizon was turning some beautiful colors–a blend of orange and purples. The sun was glowing as it was setting. It seemed like all of nature was sharing with me the example of “Be Still.” I soaked up the beauty as my soul, too, was being still. God graced me with what I saw as a purple cross in the sky with the cloud formation over the lake.

 

 

Observing nature in its stillness reminded me of the peace deep in my heart as I communed with the Lord. His presence brings that peace into our lives. I thought of these Bible verses about “be still…”

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act…  –Psalm 37:7  (NLT)

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  –Psalm 46:10  (ESV)

When we accept the invitation to be still with the Lord, we are assured that He will work on our behalf. He works everything out for our good. In the stillness, we know in our hearts that God is God who is above all. Why should we fear? God is exalted in all the earth.

 

On the second day of the retreat, one speaker said, “I put on the table the lyrics to a song that I find so meaningful.” He thought the message of the song fit perfectly with one of the previous talks of the weekend. The song is very meaningful to him, one that touches his spirit. I think my jaw dropped when he said the song was “Be Still,” the exact song that was playing in my car as I drove into the retreat center! I was in awe of God at work confirming the invitation to “be still.” Out of the 1,019 songs in my car, how could this speaker mention the same song?

 

Here is the link to the song if you want to take a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEEz3SprP8E

 

 

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  –John 3:16  (NIV)

When we accept the invitation to believe in Jesus, we have eternal life, which is the best gift we can have!

 

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!  –1 Chronicles 16:11  (ESV)

When we accept the invitation of seeking the Lord, we possess His strength within us. We are assured of His presence with us always. He never leaves or forsakes us!

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  –Proverbs 3:5  (ESV)

When we accept the invitation to trust the Lord with all we have, we lean into God’s understanding. His ways are best, and they are not always our way. We don’t have to figure everything out.

 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  –Matthew 11:28  (NLT)

When we accept the invitation to come to Jesus when weary and heavy–laden, we find rest in Him. When life seems too difficult for us, we need to leave it in God’s capable hands.

 

May you be encouraged to reflect on the invitations God has extended to you.

Be encouraged to be still, to believe in Jesus, to seek the Lord and His presence continually, to trust the Lord, and when you are weary, go to Jesus for rest.

 

Can you help write the ending of this reflection?

Can you share a personal invitation you received from the Lord?

Or, from the list of invitations above, share if the Lord nudged you to work on accepting one of His invitations this week?

 

A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  –Psalm 23:1-3  (NIV)