Bright City - Still, Vol. 2Sample

When it seems like the battles lying ahead are just too big for us to face, God reminds us that He is fighting for us. 

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

EXODUS 14:14 (NIV)

In the summer of 2009 a team of ten of us stood, for the very first time, in the center of a crumbling, derelict church. 

Situated at the heart of the city of Brighton (UK), St Peter’s was a cavernous, cathedral-like space. The church lay abandoned, like the palace of a long-forgotten King. 

Our small team had already agreed to take on the building, to restore it and breathe new life into the church and the city. With our necks strained upwards, taking in the scale of the project and the needs of the city all around us, it is safe to say we were daunted, overwhelmed. The question on all our minds was, “Where do we start?” The task just seemed too big. 

Aware of this, our leader tentatively suggested that we worship together. We found a guitar and started to raise our voices. That day, before any building activity began and even before plans were drawn up, we stood still, and we worshipped God. We sang and we meant it, ‘Great Is Your Faithfulness’, trusting that God would fight for us.

The scene in Exodus 14 is that the Israelites have just left captivity in Egypt. Many years of slavery and oppression were over. But then they realize they are being pursued by Pharaoh and his army – all his horses, chariots and troops. Verse 10 tells us they were terrified, but Moses encourages them, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

What follows is God’s command to advance and the great deliverance of the people of Israel. As Moses raises his staff and stretches out his hand over the Red Sea, the Lord parts the waters, leading his people to freedom.

God’s people won the battle that day.

Are there areas of your life where you feel daunted? Overwhelmed at the challenges ahead? Maybe even, like the Israelites, terrified? Where do you need God to break through? 

Stand still and worship Him. Let the Lord do the fighting.