Friday Fight 171: Segments of Silence
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF171.
When we think of silence, what comes to mind? Perhaps it's a brief time without the clamor of children arguing, a peaceful home filled with soothing music, or a quiet drive with only the gentle hum of air. These moments of tranquility, when embraced, can bring new life to our spiritual journey, instilling a sense of calm and repose we didn't realize was missing. Intentional silence, when practiced, can inspire, motivate, and shift our spiritual lives.
Segments of Silence:
How often have we heard or thought about the phrase "If we had only kept our mouth shut?" We all know the consequences of not adhering to that. There's a profound wisdom in silence that many overlook. Some may believe their age or position gives them the right to speak their mind, even when it's hurtful. Unfortunately, those who express every emotion are missing out on valuable life lessons. On the other hand, the silence of solitude can also cause harm. For example, those who work from home or reside alone may experience periods of isolation that lead to loneliness. Regardless of our situation, there is a delicate balance we must find.
Looking at Christ's life, we see a model of quiet, humble work devoid of chaos and attention-seeking. We should cultivate periods of silence, especially when words can cause strife, division, or gossip. Many of us are guilty of increasing the noise around us to diminish the noise within us, a common misconception. In addition, some people attempt to fill every moment of their day with noise. News or weather in the morning, then commuting to podcasts or books on audible interrupted by calls, and finally, chaotic racket at work. The commute home could include kids fighting for airtime, more music, or a gym, where our Hulu-watching headphones are multipurpose, providing entertainment and drowning out the high-volume genre selection. Sound familiar?
Consider this: If we constantly fill our time with noise, shouldn't we be equally intentional about scheduling periods of silence? Psalm 62:1 refers to a composure being taken when we are struggling. When we are silent, we place our complete confidence in God to work on our behalf, and our hope is renewed. When applying this mindset to our spiritual lives, we can better reflect on our time, particularly when spent with God. Are we constantly talking, demanding, and petitioning, or do we quiet ourselves enough to rest in silence and receive the blessing of hearing from the Holy Spirit? For instance, We could begin our day in prayer and silent reflection or try a quiet walk-in nature during our lunch break. When used for spiritual reflection, these moments of silence can profoundly impact our spiritual walk.
This is in no way meant to negate the precious conversations between a husband and wife or the words of encouragement from a sibling, parent, or grandparent. Silence should not be a barrier to communication but a tool to enhance it. But, when we evaluate the noise consumption of our day with the intent of becoming better listeners, we open ourselves to deeper, more meaningful conversations. Most importantly, when we apply this Scripture to our lives, we open our hearts to receive what God is trying to say as we quietly stand before Him. Navigating our focus to the intentional practice of silence will require work, but in our daily efforts, we are inspired and motivated by our growing relationship with Him.
Pastor Shannon
New Life