Session 6

How the pressure to fit in affects your connection with God

From 2 Chronicles: A 28-Day Devotional

As soon as Hezekiah became King in Jerusalem, he made sure the doors of God’s house were reopened for worship. 2 Chronicles 29:11 says God had chosen His people “to stand before Him and serve Him, to minister before Him and burn incense.” It had been a long time since God's people did this. They had allowed the pressures to fit in to separate them from God.

We face similar pressures today. Every direction we turn we are pushed to rely on our own strength, to spend our time and resources for the moment, and to be as fast and carefree as possible — no matter the outcome. It is easy to get caught up in this whirlwind of stress and uncertainty. But as God’s people, we are called by Him to rest in Him. We have a privilege that others do not: to live by faith.

Look again at 2 Chronicles 29:11, "The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”

• We can stand before God because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross (Hebrews 10:19-22).
• We can serve Him by serving others (Galatians 5:13).
• We can minister before Him by living in love and forgiveness (Galatians 5:14).
• We can pray. Revelation 5:8 says our prayers are like incense that goes up to the Lord.

Living by faith gives us the freedom to live a full life rather than a rushed life. When we’re caught up in Jesus’ expectations, not the world’s, we find time for stillness. And in that stillness, we can hear God's voice over all others.

Reflect:

• What is one way you have allowed outside pressures to create inside pressures?
• What is one thing you need to start or stop doing to make room in your life to experience the stillness of God?
• Do you have a verse that encourages you to rest in the stillness of God? If you don’t have one, a great one to start with is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”