“Be done with unnecessary additions to your life in an effort to ruthlessly eliminate hurry. Our souls will not find rest if we’re caught up in the hustle and racing from place to place. . . . Rather, God is found and souls are restored in the stillness.”- Bob Merritt
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of the heavenly realms.”- Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
Bob Merritt concludes Chapter 12 of Done With That as he talks about the final two ways to help reduce our obsessions and increase our devotion.
3. Battle the Enemy. We may convince ourselves that our fight is against things we can see. Yet, Pastor Merritt exhorts, we must turn our eyes to a different reality. Because Satan works day and night to destroy our souls and lives. In fact, the author asserts, Satan’s forces actively look for chances to assault us.
The Bible clearly states that you’re beloved by God. Consequently, don’t let Satan cause you to doubt that love.
4. Find God in the stillness. In Psalm 46:10, Pastor Merritt states, to be still means exactly that – to be still. While this point seems obvious, the author stresses, it bears repeating. To know God, we must pause our moving, running, planning, and scurrying.
Above all, the Hebrew word translated know carries a sense of intimacy and oneness. For our stillness creates awareness that it’s no longer us against the world. So, when we acknowledge and surrender to God’s sovereignty, in effect we declare, “God, You got this.”
In conclusion, Pastor Merritt suggests, ask God to speak to you. You must intentionally invite God into your disciplines of devotion. And, in the process, you’ll receive a new kind of love, joy, and peace.
Today’s question: What unnecessary additions to your life do you need to release? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of Done With That
