Stand Still, Don’t Move!

I’m sure the phrase, “Stand still, don’t move” has been said million of times in thousands of circumstances. I can hear one of my older brothers using that phrase when we were squirrel hunting. I’m sure a young soldier has heard similar words in a mine field. Perhaps a hiker has heard the same when a rattlesnake was within striking distance of his leg.

It is hard to stand still especially when you feel like you are in danger. Our first reaction is to run away in the opposite direction of potential harm. They say if you are confronted by an animal that is a predator, running away will trigger their predatorial instinct to attack because you are behaving like a prey animal.

If you see trouble in the distance, you may be able to avoid it. There are times when this is possible, but other times trouble suddenly pounces on you unaware. All at once, there it is. There are hundreds of solutions to these hypothetical situations, but sometimes the best answer is to stand still, don’t move.

Stand still, don’t move. Attracting attention to yourself can put you in harm’s way. That’s why soldiers wear camouflage. More than one person has saved their life by playing dead. Now may not be the day to show yourself a hero as it is to live another day.

Stand still, don’t move. Pray first; act second. God may give you an escape route if you stop, stand, and wait. “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13 NKJV).

Stand still, don’t move. Think through your options and do not overreact. A person who worked in a dangerous occupation was asked what he would do if he had only one minute to react in an emergency. He answered, “I would think for fifty seconds, and I would act for ten seconds.”

Stand still, don’t move. There may be times in life when we feel overwhelmed and outnumbered by some situation or opposition. In those times our only option may be to stand and not retreat even though it may be costly. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:13 NKJV).

Stand still, don’t move. There is a repeated phrase in the Old Testament concerning warriors who were able to “keep battle formation” meaning they would not break rank and run. Only a brave warrior can stand still with an onslaught of overwhelming force coming against him! Jesus when He was tried, did not run, nor did He physically fight but just stood.

I’m not sure where all this came from, it was just a thought rumbling through my head and heart. Maybe I needed to empty my heart and fill my head. Perhaps you needed to hear this today or you may need it for tomorrow’s encounter that only God knows. Just stand! Sometimes there is no where to run. Just stand!

The vein of this message is spiritual warfare, where we stand and fight by spiritual means of prayer, praise, and spiritual persuasion. We do not advocate physical violence. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,/ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV).

Stand still, don’t move!

Yours on the Journey,

Harry L. Whitt