Psalm 46:10
He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
But I am slowing down and savoring quiet time and letting the Lord teach me and guide me through this guided quiet. Silence is a great teacher. ~Sharon at Something to Think About
Quiet time.
Silence.
When was the last time you experienced either one of these? Are they desires you wish fulfilled? Or situations best avoided?
I know of folks who maintain their televisions 24/7, even when they are not watching the shows. The sound of voices in conversation and commentary keeps the quiet at bay, reassures them that they are not alone.
I know of folks, ear-plugged into a steady stream of music, who can't abide the silence. Music sings to them that they are not alone.
Why cannot the same be found in silence? As Sharon describes it most aptly, and I might add from experience, it is the "great teacher."
But do we believe it? Do we trust it?
What happens to us when we give way and allow the silence to envelop us? Embrace us? Define us?
Will we finally realize that, in the silence, we are not alone?
As we stand on the brink of the Lenten Season, pondering our giving ups and our taking-ons to allow us to grow closer to the Lord, I encourage you, if you have never done so, to make a vow to welcome silence into your heart and mind. Give yourself the room to simply be still.
To rest without the distractions of the outside world. To allow God the freedom and opportunity to speak to you in the calm and the hush.
Tune the world down. Tune God in.
I guarantee, you won't feel alone.
You won't be alone.
~
What disciplines are you planning to practice during Lent?
Prayer: Father, as we prepare to meet the joy of Your Son resurrected on that blessed first Easter, may our Lenten season be filled with Your presence and guidance. May we find comfort in the sounds of silence where Your voice is clearly heard, and know with confidence that we are not alone, for You are always with us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
I just love silence....as my head is full of thoughts. Silence gives me clarity and I can accomplish doing more when things are quiet.
ReplyDeleteIt works that way for me, too, Janu. If I couldn't have silence, I don't know how I'd ever get my writing done.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Silence is hard to come by where I live. Sometimes I really do yearn for it though.
ReplyDeleteWow, Brenda, you must be surrounded by a very busy environment! Sometimes, I've tried earplugs when there is lots of activity in the house; those do help to a degree. You might want to give it a go.
DeleteLove and blessings and thanks so much for visiting!
I can do with both silence and noise. When driving I most often like music on. I don't do well with books or sermons. LOL When I read or have my Encounter Time it must be quiet. i get distracted too easily. I was never raised to observe Lent or any sort of discipline associated with it. However, I am seriously thinking of giving up something but it would be too hard to explain here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing how you work best, Bill! For someone not brought up with the tradition of Lenten practices, my suggestion is not to give something up but take something on instead which will enhance your faith walk.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Sometimes silence can be an enemy to me, for that is when my thoughts can run rampant. But, it is also the time when I am able to hear the Lord amidst all the yakking!!
ReplyDeleteLearning how to tune out the distractions, and to hear Him speak!
GOD BLESS!
Sharon, I think that's why so many of us (and I used to be in that camp) avoid silence because we don't want certain thoughts racing around in our heads. In fact, when I first started working on my novels, I played soft instrumental music thinking that would help me focus better. NOT! :)
DeleteHope you can tune out the distractions and hear what God has to say.
Love and blessings!
Ah! Silence :)
ReplyDeleteNo wonder I prefer working at night when the whole world sleeps as I simply love the silence around, it seems to bring out the writer in me!
So, you're a night owl, Privy? :) I'm not, but the silence of that time is uniquely inviting when I sometimes wake in the night to get a glass of water - the whole world has a different feel of quiet and stillness.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Beautiful post, dear Martha! Psalm 46 is one of my favorite psalms--of course I have MANY favorite Scriptures! Quiet is pretty easy for me to come by, something that I'm thankful for. Although, I do sometimes have the TV on for some background noise, not to know that I'm not alone, just to have something to take in auditory wise, instead of just my thoughts floating through my head, some times so fast it is dizzying.
ReplyDeleteAs for Lent, at this point, I have nothing special planned, although I may or may not do a Lenten study at church.
Love and blessings!
Some people really need that background noise - it actually helps them to concentrate. So if it works for you, more power to you! Let me know if you decide to do a Lenten study this year. If not with our church, there are, I believe, some offered at Biblegateway.
DeleteLove and blessings!
I just registered for my annual silent retreat - 3-4 days just with God. I have been doing this practice for close to 20 years now and on the few years I didn't get one in, my soul really missed it. Silence nourishes me.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jean, that retreat sounds awesome! I'd love to hear more about it sometime. May your soul be nourished and blessed during this time.
DeleteLove and blessings!
I have learned to love silence which did not come easy since I am such a social person. Yet I find periods of silence are refreshing for my soul. Good post.
ReplyDeleteBetty, I can be very social, too; extroverted when I need to be. Yet I am at my best when all is quiet around me. Glad you enjoyed the post!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Martha, what a beautiful post! I am happy to report that I am quite comfortable with silence. I love being able to retreat and feel the stillness and peace it provides. I believe that it is during these times when I can hear the voice within; when I can pray and meditate on that which is troubling me. Hugs and blessings to you and yours, my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to know you enjoy stillness and peace, too, Gypsyroxylee. It does make for a perfect environment for prayer and reflection. Enjoy the sounds of silence!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Thank you for this reminder, Martha. Let us get silent enough to be enveloped and guided by the silence. We think in the modern world and social media world, we must continually be engaged and preoccupied. Our mind and thoughts constantly welcome outside thoughts. To fight against the ways of the world, we can practice going into the depths of silence and experiencing God there. I've heard (and felt) God loudest (and the most) when my mind is quiet and my soul is open.
ReplyDeleteYes, Vishnu, this world today can keep us in a whirl of constant distraction if we let it. I've really tried to pull back on how much time I spend on social media and have been pretty successful at it. In the silence is where I experience God's presence most palpably; that's a practice I'll never stop!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Yes, in today's world full of chaos and babble of various sounds continuously pounding on our ears, silence is a great respite. I enjoy silence rightly on getting up and before going to bed by deep breathing and concentrating upon the touch of my breaths on my nostrils. That way I really become silent inwardly. It helps me to recharge myself and become happy too.
ReplyDelete-Portia
I love how you welcome silence into both your night and your morning, Portia. Being silent inside first is an excellent way to recognize the importance of silent times throughout the day.
DeleteLove and blessings!