The Gift of Silence
“But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth hush and keep silence before Him. (Habakkuk 2:20)
Have you ever noticed how when there’s a lull in the conversation some people tend to get uncomfortable and fidgety? They start babbling trying to take up the silence. Sad to say, I’m guilty of that, but I’m learning. I have a husband who enjoys silence and a very dear girlfriend. Thanks to them, over the years the sounds of silence have begun to resonate well with me.
I’m learning to listen for the voice of the Lord in the stillness and silence, free from distractions and cares of this world. What a gift silence is. To be still… and to know… that He… is… God.
Over the past several days, I have meditated on several passages of Scripture regarding the gift of silence. Here are the words the Lord spoke to me in the silence through these verses. (Psalm 46:10; Zechariah 2:13; Zephaniah 1:7 & 3:17; Psalm 131:1,2 & 113:7)
How do you respond to silence? Do you look at it as a gift or an awkward moment?
Are you afraid of stillness?
Does quietness alarm you – remind you of your aloneness?
Perhaps that is why your life tends to be so noisy,
and you think yourself brash,
like a thrashing mule at times.
I want you to be silent before Me.
I want you to listen diligently to the quiet.
Be still.
Hush.
Know that I am God.
Can you pierce the heavens with your noise?
Can you trample your way into My eyes with your pleas and promises?
I have seen you.
I have known you without a sound.
My silence is perfect communication issuing from My holiness.
It is My sigh of love,
My bond with you through My written Word and My Spirit.
You were formed as the final work of My creation,
an act I performed in silence
with a breath.
You are My sigh,
My heart,
My breath.
Will you not hush, still your pride, and stop your racing thoughts?
Will you cease from involving yourself
in matters that do not pertain to you
and problems too great for you?
Hush! Compose and quiet your mind.
Let your soul rest as a weaned baby rests
against the quiet circumference of a mother’s body.
I am your God, and I am with you.
I will save you, don’t fret.
I rejoice over you with great gladness,
Let my love silence you
and listen as I sing over you a song of My love.
Listen to the stillness,
where no calamity can reach,
where human plans cannot rule,
where the needy personality is lifted from the ash heap
as if on wings of a dove to a holy place
away from the stormy winds of daily cares
and the continual flux of human motion.
Enter into yourself and listen to the stillness of
My life deep, deep, deep….in you.
Visit Marsha’s personal blog at here.
God has been working within me on this particular subject for quite some time now. I was like that before,,when it was silence, a lull in the conversation, I felt it was my ‘duty’ to keep it going, to keep the conversation going. I have learned now to listen to our Father’s voice when He says,,’be quiet, listen, be still’…..
Awesome devotional and Word of God shared..thank you precious sister.
Marsha, thank you for the reminder that it is in the STILLNESS that we hear God speaking. I think too many times we get so busy asking God for things and talking and talking and talking that we forget to be quiet and listen for His voice. -blessings, Laurie
Wow Marsha,
This is just an awesome way to start my day. I am fasting today but had not thought about just set aside some specific time to be quiet before the Lord. Girl, thank you….
This was wonderful. Being still! That is where God wants us always, even in the physical busyness of our lives we can still “be still” inside if we lean into Him and let Him empower us to take on our day. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If we learn to “be still” and let Him lift us up even the daily grind can be easy.
Great devotion
That is so beautiful Marsha. Thank you for the gentle nudge to be still before our Lord.
Bless you my dear friend for this lovely devotion.
This is so well said and something that I need to work on.