Day 20 Daniel Fast Devotional_Resting in God’s Supremacy_Stan and Dana Butler

Hi family!  As we watch the entire earth shaking all around us and the foundations upon which many have built their lives crumbling, what else is there for us but to rest in the knowledge that Jesus is holding onto us, that He is everything we need and will never let us go?  And the knowledge that, ultimately, HE WILL BE GLORIFIED, made known to the ends of the earth, acknowledged as Lord and King of all.  If our lives are truly about His glory, this should bring us great comfort, even in the face of the shaking that occurs in our own lives.

In reading the Word, Stan often receives from the Lord “pictures” in which God uses Stan’s imagination to make Scripture come alive to him.  Within the last week we have experienced some major shaking in our own lives, and we have found ourselves repeatedly turning to Psalm 46 to be reminded of the truth.  We wanted to share with you the “Stan version” of Psalm 46.  May it come alive to you as it has to us in recent days.  God is faithful to make Himself real to His kids even, and especially, when everything is shaken.

First, here’s Psalm 46, NIV:

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

³ though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

⁸ Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Psalm 46 - Stan Version:

The darkness of oppression and uncertainty falls upon the earth, hanging like a veil over the hearts of people worldwide. Everyone feels the chill deep inside and hurries to busy themselves with things that they hope will make them feel warm again, things that will bring peace to the trouble clouding their minds. The earth trembles with earthquakes, groans with tidal waves, and weeps, spilling out lightning, thunder and rain upon its inhabitants. In the distance, the drums of war beat louder and faster stirring the hearts of kings toward conquest and sharpening the swords of nation against nation. As the darkness thickens the people of the earth stoke the fires of industry and technology to turn back the tide of blackness, hoping that the next new invention will burn bright enough to restore hope and order to their troubled world. Men huddle around these fires, pressing towards the flames to feel warm again, but alas, the heat is not enough to stop the love of most from growing cold.

The saints watch all of this and ponder it in their hearts. They watch from the resting place of the Father’s heart, the city of the Eternal God. They are themselves in the world, but their hearts do not reside there. God is their fortress and strength, always present in the darkest times of life. In His city the darkness takes no hold and His light shines bright, warming the souls of all and laying their fears to rest. They open the books of the Chronicles of their God and remember the things that He has done, the things that He has promised that He will do, and they give thanks. There is a river in that city that makes glad all its inhabitants and causes them to rejoice and break out in song. The river of the Spirit runs deep in the city. All its people drink deeply from it and they sing a new song:

“Be still. The Lord is God. Be still and remember that the Lord is God. In the end, He will be exalted above all those in authority and over every nation on earth. He will sit enthroned on high, worshiped by all the inhabitants of the world; a day of much rejoicing, gladness, hope and an everlasting peace.”

We love you all and are thankful to be able to call you family,

Stan and Dana (Stana J)

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