Silence

When we were kids we traveled a lot.  With 4 kids in the car I'm sure it tried my parents patience every time!   Mind you, this was way before in-car DVD players and large SUV's!  We would end up playing some sort of game to pass the time.  Mom's favorite game for us to play was MOUSE.  It was a contest to see who could be as quiet as a mouse the longest.  Of course, once we were old enough to figure out it was just a ploy to gain Mom a little peace and quiet, we didn't want to play.

There's a lot to be said for silence.  The Bible certainly says plenty about it!  Being silent before God is one of the best ways to hear from Him...to settle your spirit as you wait on Him and rest in the Lord.

Psalm 65:1-2 (The Message)

 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God,
   And also obedience.
      You hear the prayer in it all.

Silence and obedience is praise and prayer to God?  Who would have thought that?! It does make a lot of sense.  Think about it...how can we hear from God if we don't shut up and listen?  I'm sure all of you have had friends that monopolize the conversation.  It's not conducive to a growing relationship.  It's no different with God.

Like me, Dad was a talker.  He loved people and loved talking to people.  Mom was the quiet one.  She would listen and observe but in a crowd or even a small group she did very little talking.  But they both knew how to be quiet before God and they valued their daily quiet time with the Lord.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

In The Message version this same verse reads:

"Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
      loving look at me, your High God,
      above politics, above everything."

I like that.  Step out of the traffic.  Take a break.  Rest.  Listen.  Be still.

Revelation has a phrase that is repeated often (I counted 7).  In The Message it reads:

"Are your ears awake?  Listen.  Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."

God is speaking to you.  His Spirit is blowing.  Are your ears awake?  Listen!