My good friend Diane recently shared some thoughts the Lord showed her during a quiet time with Him. Instead of always trying to do things in our own power - and often failing - , God wants us to be "still magnolias", quiet and still before Him in worship, prayer, and studying and meditating on His Word, allowing Him to enable us by His Holy Spirit with His Power to tackle the needs in our lives. Diane was gracious enough to give me permission to take her revelation and turn it into a devotion for the ladies auxiliary meeting at the church I attend. I hope it blesses you in some way.
Steel is hard, cold, tough, inflexible, insensible, and unyielding. In some of life's circumstances, women feel they have to be "steel magnolias", like the women in the movie of the same name. We can tackle any problem and solve it, while enduring heartache and stress and never taking time for ourselves. Yet the problems don't stay solved. We face the same ones over and over.
A still magnolia is silent before God, protected by Him, calm, at rest, and waiting on Him in service and expectation of His Goodness. She trusts the Lord with all of her cares, and He meets her every need by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through her. As she rests calmly in Him, she grows and matures, blessing others God puts in her path.
Which type of magnolia do YOU want to be?
Still - Psalms 4:4 "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with you own heart upon your bed, and be still." KJV
Silent - Psalms 30:12 "To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent, O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever."
Protection - 1 Samuel 2:9 "He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail."
Quieted (Spiritual Maturity) "Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother; my soul is even as a weaned child."
Calm - Psalms 107:29 " He maketh the storm a calm so that the waves thereof are still."
Rest - Psalms 37:7 "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
Wait - Psalms 62:5 "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."
To sum it all up, be still and silent before the Lord in a quiet place and examine your own heart. Listen with your heart, and He will guide you in all your ways. Worship Him and continually give Him thanks. He will protect you by His Power. You will mature as a Christian and be able to help others and share your faith with them. By continuing in Him every day, you will have faith to sustain you in times of need and be calm. Being confident that He has everything under control, you can rest and wait for Him.
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