Desolations

Scripture:
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:8-9)

Observation:
des·o·la·tion/ˌdesəˈlāSHən/Noun
1. A state of complete emptiness or destruction.

The psalmist is contrasting the refuge God offers with the refuges we usually seek in the world - addictions, money, governments. We know what desolations the enemies of Israel threatened to bring and the tools of destruction they used. The psalmist tells us that God destroys things to - things like bows, spears, and shields. God destroys armaments not armies.

Application:
When I begin to be overwhelmed by things, I don't always turn to the healthiest solutions. I retreat behind time wasters that distract me for awhile from my problems, but aren't any real help. The refuge God offers is not an escape from the world, but sometimes when we watch the world closely, we might see that God is helping us endure in the world.

Prayer:
God, How I long to see the desolations you bring to the earth. Shatter the bows, spears and shields of warring nations before they bring a different desolation. Shatter my bow, spear and shield before I bring any desolation into the lives around me.

Be Still!

Scripture
"Be Still and know that I am God!"

Observation
It's the first time I noticed the exclamation point at the end there. This is an attentive, edge of your seat being still.

Application
What have beauty have I missed from being too busy to notice. What people did God place in my way, and I didn't see. Every parent can identify with God's "Be Still!"

Prayer
God, keep me on the edge of my seat today. I want to hang on your every word, notice your every wonder, and encounter your every child with an attentiveness enabled by your Spirit. Amen