From Silent to Listen

What and odd title you might think but you know sometimes it is hard to be silent and sometimes our world is so filled with noise that it is hard to listen. However, I learned a little something about these two words. Both of them have the exact same letters. Yep, you just looked back to double-check, didn’t you? Kind of cool isn’t it? I love discovering things like this. To really listen we need to be silent.

We can only hear God speaking when we are silent. When we decide to be silent and listen, we soon discover that, even though we think of being silent as being free from sounds, that is almost impossible. I step out on my porch, late at night, just before going bed, and I think oh it’s so quiet here in the country and all of a sudden you hear a million frogs and cicadas. So many that it is almost deafening. Early in the morning as I try to observe a little quiet time, I get still and then there is the ice maker dropping ice, the clock ticking, the hum of the AC kicks on and eventually the wind will blow and something will creak. Even with all of the noise going on you can tune your mind and heart to Godly things. In the silent setting, thank God for all of the noisy things that you love and thank Him that you are able to notice the noises in the silence. As you thank God for all of these things take time to listen to his response. Listen for the breath of wind, the buzz of the insects, and the fullness of God’s presence as He enters your heart.

Mark 9:7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Proverbs 1:33 “But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”