The next teaching from our Pastor is a continuation of the topic ‘The Increase.’
This time it was our Pastor Scotty with his Scottish accent.
He begins with the statement, “When the season of your life is busy the best thing you can do is stop.
“Stop and breathe.” Read the verse in Psalm 46:10 {Be still and know that I am God.}
We will find increase when we stop.
Stopping our work to rest in God: Sabbath
Stopping our pursuit of people to be alone with God: Solitude
Stopping our words to listen to God: Silence
Stopping our actions to wait before God: Stillness
There is increase through taking a break and stopping as we lean into the lessons learned.
Scotty said, “stopping rejuvenates us, even God stopped and rested on the 7th day.”
Stopping raises us. It reminds us to remember the sabbath and keep it holy.
Stopping reminds us that we need rest. It creates a discipline within us to stop and be refreshed and to be renewed to restore our strength.
Silence reminds us of our identity and it reminds us of the work God has done within us.
Sabbath is God’s way of saying, stop, notice your limits and be sure to not burn out.
Stopping releases us into the freedom that God has given to us.
Stopping reorients us. Even Jesus went alone to pray often withdrawing to a lonely place to pray. {In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.} Mark 1:35
We are encouraged to make every effort to rest.
{ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.} Hebrews 4:9,10,11
When we say, “be still and know” it is a heart and mind relational experience. Like when you say, I know her or him. Relationship status. The word still can also mean cease striving, stop your fighting, calm down, desist and learn in your quiet.
Stopping reveals God to us if we listen and pay attention.
(For example my husband and I go the beach weekly.
When I stop and listen; I feel and hear the majesty of our creator. I can’t help it, it is clear to me all around as I see the beauty.)
Finally stopping increases our transformation. Transformation meaning: a seemingly miraculous change in the appearance;change in form, appearance, nature, or character.
When we truly begin to take time for stopping we become increasingly more aware of our need for quiet, restful and peaceful moments.
Let us be still and know, that He is God.

{Unsure where image came from. Credit unknown.}