Did you enjoy that moment of silence?
Of course, if you’re like me, you probably scrolled through quickly and wondered what was wrong with the way I posted today’s Encouragement. I did it intentionally! I wanted to give you a moment of silence in your day. Most of us don’t get that, do we?
In a world filled with noise, good and bad, silence is a foreign thing to us. Some folks are afraid of silence; they feel the need to fill each moment with some sort of sound. Silence, though, can be said to be God’s first language. Certainly my experience is that I can hear from God best when I open myself to a time of silence.
Do you build time for silence into your day? For those who are introverts or who live alone, it can be easier to do; irrespective of our preferences or living arrangements, though, God invites us to times of silence.
“Be still, and know that I am God”, said the Lord through the Psalmist (Psalm 46.10a, NIV). That phrase “Be still” can also be translated, “Let go of your grip.” I don’t know about you, but sometimes I look down and find my hands clenched into fists for no particular reason – it’s as if I’m holding on for dear life to something, but there’s nothing there!
When we let go of our grip, we can give up control to the God who made the world and made us for a relationship of love. When we are still, then we can truly know that the Lord is God. When we are quiet, we can engage in relationship with the Lord and hear him speaking into our souls.
Why not take a few minutes, right now, to be still, to let go of your grip, and to know that the Lord is God? Give yourself five minutes; time it if you feel you need to. Perhaps begin yours silence by inviting the Lord to speak, as Samuel did: “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3.10b, NIV). When you’re done, write down in a journal (or whatever scrap of paper is handy) how the Lord spoke to you through that time.
Here’s some more space for silence.
God’s best for your weekend. Maybe you can set aside some time for silence again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day…
Dr. Jeff Loach is Pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Nobleton, ON. He blogs at http://www.passionatelyhis.com/.
