Finding Stillness: Reconnecting with God Amidst Life's Rush
Summary
In today's message, I explored the relentless pace of life, particularly in places like Hong Kong, where the culture often feels like a treadmill that never stops. From the moment children are born, there is a constant push to achieve more, to be faster, and to excel beyond others. This drive for success, while not inherently wrong, can lead to exhaustion and a disconnection from what truly matters—our relationship with God. Psalm 46:10 calls us to "be still and know that I am God," a command that is challenging in a world that values productivity over presence.
I shared how our lives are often consumed by the need to control and achieve, yet James 4:13-16 reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the illusion of control. Our plans and ambitions can be disrupted in an instant, revealing our vulnerability and the need to rely on God's will. This period of forced stillness, whether through global events or personal circumstances, is an opportunity to reconnect with God, who yearns jealously for our spirit. This divine longing is not about control but about a deep, intimate relationship that we were created for.
Reflecting on Revelation 2, I emphasized the importance of returning to our first love—God. Our activities and achievements mean little if they are not rooted in love for Him. The frightening reality is that many may find themselves distant from God despite their good works. This is a call to repentance and a return to genuine intimacy with our Creator. The greatest moments in life are found in solitude with God, where we join the angels in worship and find peace and joy in His presence. This is not a call to inactivity but to a life of adventure with God, grounded in a deep relationship with Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The relentless pursuit of success can lead to exhaustion and a disconnection from God. We must learn to be still and recognize His presence in our lives, as emphasized in Psalm 46:10. This stillness is not a waste of time but a necessary pause to deepen our relationship with God. [02:43]
- James 4:13-16 reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the illusion of control. Our plans can be disrupted at any moment, highlighting our need to rely on God's will rather than our own understanding. This is a call to humility and trust in God's sovereignty. [05:31]
- God yearns jealously for our spirit, desiring a deep, intimate relationship with us. This divine longing is a profound truth that should draw us closer to Him, especially during times of isolation and stillness. [07:22]
- Revelation 2 warns against forsaking our first love—God. Our activities and achievements are meaningless if not rooted in love for Him. This is a call to repentance and a return to genuine intimacy with our Creator. [08:43]
- The greatest moments in life are found in solitude with God, where we join the angels in worship and find peace and joy in His presence. This is not a call to inactivity but to a life of adventure with God, grounded in a deep relationship with Him. [11:36]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - Documentary Reflection
[01:02] - The Treadmill of Life
[01:34] - The Pressure to Achieve
[02:06] - Exhaustion and Control
[02:43] - Be Still and Know
[03:22] - Created for Relationship
[04:07] - Oneness with God
[04:52] - The Illusion of Control
[05:31] - Life is a Vapor
[06:04] - The Stopped Treadmill
[06:38] - God's Jealous Yearning
[07:22] - Purpose in Isolation
[08:04] - Return to First Love
[08:43] - The Call to Repentance
[09:31] - A Gift of Stillness
[10:15] - Security in God's Love
[10:59] - Worship and Peace
[11:36] - Adventure with God
[12:14] - Prayer for Connection
[13:04] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 46:10
2. James 4:13-16
3. Revelation 2:4-5
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Psalm 46:10 mean when it says, "Be still and know that I am God"? How does this verse challenge the culture of constant productivity? [02:43]
2. According to James 4:13-16, what is the illusion of control that people often have about their lives? How does this passage describe the nature of life? [05:31]
3. In Revelation 2, what does it mean to forsake one's first love, and why is this significant for believers? [08:43]
4. How does the sermon describe the cultural pressure in Hong Kong to achieve and succeed from a young age? What impact does this have on one's spiritual life? [01:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the command to "be still" in Psalm 46:10 be seen as a form of resistance against societal pressures? What does this stillness offer to believers? [02:43]
2. In what ways does James 4:13-16 challenge the notion of self-reliance and control? How does this passage encourage believers to trust in God's sovereignty? [05:31]
3. What does it mean for God to yearn jealously for our spirit, as mentioned in the sermon? How does this divine longing affect our understanding of God's relationship with us? [07:22]
4. How does the call to return to one's first love in Revelation 2 relate to the idea of genuine intimacy with God? What are the consequences of neglecting this love? [08:43]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily routine. Are there moments where you can intentionally "be still" to deepen your relationship with God? What changes can you make to prioritize this time? [02:43]
2. Consider a recent situation where you felt the need to control the outcome. How might James 4:13-16 encourage you to approach similar situations differently in the future? [05:31]
3. In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of God's presence in your life, especially during times of isolation or stillness? How can this awareness transform your daily interactions? [07:22]
4. Have you ever felt distant from God despite being active in church or other religious activities? How can you refocus your efforts to ensure they are rooted in love for Him? [08:43]
5. Identify one area of your life where you feel exhausted from the pursuit of success. How can you invite God into this area to find rest and renewal? [02:06]
6. Think of a time when you prioritized achievements over relationships. How can you balance these aspects in a way that honors your relationship with God? [01:02]
7. How can you create a habit of worship and solitude in your life, similar to the pastor's practice of joining the angels in worship? What steps will you take to make this a regular part of your routine? [10:59]
Devotional
Day 1: The Necessity of Stillness
In a world that constantly demands more from us, the relentless pursuit of success can lead to exhaustion and a disconnection from God. The culture of productivity often overshadows the importance of being present with God. Psalm 46:10 calls us to "be still and know that I am God," a reminder that stillness is not a waste of time but a necessary pause to deepen our relationship with Him. This stillness allows us to step off the treadmill of life and recognize His presence, offering us peace and renewal. [02:43]
Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can incorporate moments of stillness into your daily routine to reconnect with God today?
Day 2: Embracing Life's Uncertainty
James 4:13-16 reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the illusion of control. Our plans and ambitions can be disrupted in an instant, highlighting our vulnerability and the need to rely on God's will rather than our own understanding. This is a call to humility and trust in God's sovereignty, recognizing that life is a vapor and our control is limited. Embracing this truth allows us to live with a sense of peace, knowing that God holds our future. [05:31]
Proverbs 27:1 (ESV): "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle with control. How can you practice surrendering this to God today, trusting in His plan?
Day 3: God's Jealous Longing
God yearns jealously for our spirit, desiring a deep, intimate relationship with us. This divine longing is not about control but about a profound connection that we were created for. During times of isolation and stillness, we have the opportunity to draw closer to Him, experiencing His love and presence in a deeper way. This longing from God is an invitation to intimacy, where we can find true fulfillment and purpose. [07:22]
Zechariah 8:2 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath."
Reflection: In what ways can you respond to God's longing for a deeper relationship with you today? What steps can you take to nurture this intimacy?
Day 4: Returning to Our First Love
Revelation 2 warns against forsaking our first love—God. Our activities and achievements are meaningless if not rooted in love for Him. This is a call to repentance and a return to genuine intimacy with our Creator. It is a reminder that our relationship with God should be the foundation of all we do, and without it, we risk becoming distant from Him despite our good works. [08:43]
Jeremiah 2:2 (ESV): "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, 'I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. What steps can you take to rekindle your love and devotion to Him today?
Day 5: The Adventure of Solitude with God
The greatest moments in life are found in solitude with God, where we join the angels in worship and find peace and joy in His presence. This is not a call to inactivity but to a life of adventure with God, grounded in a deep relationship with Him. In these moments of solitude, we can experience the fullness of His love and the joy of being in His presence, leading us to a life of purpose and fulfillment. [11:36]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: How can you create space for solitude with God in your life this week? What might this time of worship and connection look like for you?
Quotes
Psalm 46:10 be still and know that I am God and I moved from Hong Kong when I was five but I was raised by Hong Kong parents and I know man it was just all about efficiency it was all about achievement and the thought of being still to have deep relationship with God honestly deep relationship felt like a waste of time because if I slow down I'm not going to accomplish the goals that I want accomplished if I slow down someone's gonna pass me up and so we're going going going and we're running and the problem with this is we were created to have deep relationship with God. [00:02:48]
God made us relational beings in fact there's a way that we were made in which my very spirit like the core of who I am was designed to be like deeply intertwined with the Spirit of God that when he made Adam and Eve they were in the garden walking with him that's the way we were designed in fact Jesus said I and the father are one he said there's this crazy thing reason so if you've seen me you've seen the father he talked about this oneness they had but then he says and I want you to abide in me and I will live in you. [00:03:33]
This is what I was made for this is what you and I were designed for to have this deep walk with God our Creator but just like Adam and Eve in the garden they ran off they wanted to do their own thing they wanted independence and so many of us we have that same tendency where we want to control our own lives we don't want to spend our time in this intimacy with God we have things to do and so we go and we run and we try to control things. [00:04:34]
James 4 verses 13 through 16 has never been so real than right now where he says come now you who say we're gonna go to such in such a city tomorrow stay there for a year make a profit he says you even know what your life is going to be like tomorrow because your life is like a vapor it appears for a while and then it vanishes he says instead you should say if the Lord wills we shall do this or that he goes but instead you boast and all that boasting is evil. [00:05:11]
God says you think you're in control you're gonna go to this city and you're gonna make this money how's that working out for you I bet you in January you had projections for this year how is it going man God says even when you try to control your life you're not in control don't you understand that there's something about how right now he just caused every single treadmill to stop and it's driving us crazy because all we know how to do is run run run. [00:06:01]
This isn't just to humble us yes I believe God wants to humble us and show us look you can't control your life you can't control tomorrow but there's something even deeper earlier in that chapter in verse 5 this is so amazing to me this might be the most overwhelming truth to me in Scripture in James 4 verse 5 it says he yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us. [00:06:27]
What you're telling me there's a God in heaven the Bible says that he sits on this throne in unapproachable light with lightning and thunder and fire all around him that there's a hundred million angels worshiping him and yet it says that being yearns jealously for me like he yearns jealously for you and then maybe this time of isolation has a purpose and the purpose is he wants to be with me. [00:07:02]
He says stop running stop doing you know I'm gonna put an end I'm just gonna stop you for a while because I Almighty God want to be with you I want to connect with you man if there's one message to the church in Hong Kong and it's what he says to the church and emphasis in Revelation 2 where he says you're doing so many good things but you've forsaken your first love. [00:07:49]
What's crazy about that passage is he says you need to change you need to repent because if you don't repent he says I'll remove you that's crazy saying I would rather not have this church doing all this stuff and not loving me I want your love maybe the most frightening passages in Matthew 7 when he says at the end many will say to me Lord didn't I do this didn't I do that and he will say depart from me I never knew you. [00:08:23]
Be still and know that I am God the worst thing you could do right now is just get frustrated and stressed out and try to fix everything so you can get back on that treadmill this is a gift to you you have a loving father in heaven Almighty God the one who decides whether you keep breathing for the rest of the day and he's saying I want you right now it's a big deal to look at him and say no I've got something better to do. [00:09:04]
This is his gift it's a time for you to look back at your life and go why am I just running aimlessly God wants you to get off this machine and get deep into a relationship with him he wants you to have so much security in him it's not based upon how you perform it's not based on how much you make how successful you are it's a God who loves you unconditionally and wants you to be so secure in him. [00:09:36]
The greatest moments of my life have been those times when I'm alone with him I try to isolate myself every morning just so that I can join all of the angels in heaven that are screaming out holy holy holy and I just isolate myself in my room and I say God I agree with all the Angels and everything in my being says God I was made to worship you I agree with all the Angels you are so holy and worthy is the Lamb I can't believe he died for me. [00:10:51]
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