My children have a gift for collecting. Every scrap of paper that’s ever been scribbled on, every rock or leaf they find, every junky toy from a cereal box or fast food restaurant is absolutely precious, as precious as the actual gifts they receive! Because of their penchant for collecting what any other person would obviously deem “trash”, I have to make de-cluttering a regular part of our cleaning routine.
January, in our modern, Western, American culture, traditionally marks the season of resolutions. As we flip the calendars that mark a new day in a new month of a new year, it’s natural to think back on where we’ve been as well as forward to where we’d like to be.
Personally, I love the practice of choosing a word for the year, making plans, and challenging my family and myself to move toward growth.
But sometimes I find myself asking the wrong questions. What if, instead of taking stock and thinking about what I can do to improve, I took the time to de-clutter? What if I laid my treasures out before the throne of grace and asked God to show me what’s really trash and ready to be removed?
Be Still
The answer (Spoiler alert!) is in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”.
The Hebrew word for still is raphah, which means “to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened”. The CSB translates it as, “Stop your fighting…” The word “fight” conjures up an image of clenched fists, arms tightly wrapped around an opponent or weapon, a defensive posture, coiled and ready for an attack. To stop fighting or be still is to raphah. Relax. Let go of that defensive position. Release your opponent, Unclench your fists. Let go.
The verse goes on to say, “…know I am God.” Because He is God, because of His character, who He has proven to be time and again, we can let go, trusting that he will be working on our behalf. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (v. 1). He is involved and immovable (v. 6). A warrior. A peacemaker. Our fortress (v.11). Selah!
And Let Go
As we enter the first month of the new year, we’re going to look at the idea of Letting Go. What trash are we holding on to, and more importantly, what is it about God that allows us to let go freely?
[…] the character of God and the freedom He brings in a series titled “Let Go and Know.” Jaime posed the question, “What trash are we holding on to, and more importantly, what is it about God that allows us […]