Imagine what it would be like to sit still for 10mins and be completely silent. No radio, no phone, no computer, no traffic, no music. No distractions. This maybe a terrifying thought for some. I have suffered from depression in the past and the thought of silence was terrifying. I couldn’t bear the thought of being alone with myself. Some of us may have issues that we bury away with the noise of life and it would be terrifying to stop. God can meet you in the silence.
Maybe sitting silently sounds like a dream that could never happen. Our lives are too busy, our kids too young, our attention too short. There is always something else that needs doing. I want to challenge you. In the Bible it says “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
During lent I’m taking time to be silent and still with God. Feel free to ask me how it goes! Why not think about taking time to be still and quiet before God? Take a few minutes to prioritise being peaceful and still and to breathe....
Beth Edgar
Church Administrator
Church Administrator
6 comments:
I love the Psalm you’ve quoted and I find the whole idea of “Silence” in God’s presence attractive. Curiosity has even got the better of me enough to try it from time to time, but then other things break in and it falls apart very quickly. Is that because of my personality, lack of discipline or culture? I don’t know, but I do believe that the mystics of old, people like Bede and St Cuthbert, people I’m strangely drawn to don’t have a corner on this market so I will be following you on this one because I want to see what I can glean and learn...
This subject has been coming up a lot lately! There was a really interesting TV documentary called 'The Silence' and it followed a mixture of people through a silent retreat and it was amazingly transformational! Then this week-end some friends of ours told us they are booked to go on an 8 day silent retreat. A leader they really respect had been on one and he came back different! It is hard to find silence, but it seems God is in it so worth persevering!
That's a really great challenge. I might just take you up on that!
Nice one Beth!! As well as the question of "Silence" we could ask the question "Who are we listening to?" (Deut 28:2). We are surrounded by noises, like you identified and they leave an impression. Look at soceity's focus on Image, Celb status/worship etc. We long for "silence" but the reality is that we cannot stop the noise, this information bombarding us. Even in our silence so often we listen to our own thoughts, rather than God's voice?. It's in our minds and in our heart. Rom 12:2 - Let God transform our thinking!! Great start to an important discussion. Thanks. xx
Steve Wright
Hey Beth,
So how's it going? Have the last weeks been quiet for you? What have you gleaned from these moments? And has this experiment moved you from a place of duty to a place of delight?
Hey David,
It's going pretty good to be honest, i thougth it would be a real struggle. I got it into my head ages ago that quiet times were not a good idea. Hear me out. I had heard someone talking about how you shouldn't make quiet times something you just do out of habit but you should shake it up, do different things, diferent times, meet with God in different ways but dont make it habitual. Becasue i am unfortuantely often a little extreme in my ideas i thought they were saying quiet times weren't good full stop and i thougth that we didnt need that time with God at all. Sounds weird but i shyed away from time with God on my own completely. Im fine in a small group or church or something. anyway i heard a talk recently (Mary Pytches at the Vineyards national leadership conference) and it changed my mind. Now i can honestly say most days i long for my quiet time, its like part of diet for the day. I feel strange if i dont have it. I love God so much more. Im not saying its always easy peasey but i always come out of it refreshed and ready fro the day.
It has definetly moved me from a place of duty to a place of delight.
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