The majority of the time I can seem to keep quiet.
It is not so much that I am always talking, but it is much more that I am always retorting, rebutting or formulating in my mind.
They should do this…
I wonder if he has considered…
I have to say this next…
I can’t forget to mention…
When talking, it is very hard to be listening.
When planning, it is very hard to be receiving a plan.
When speaking over God, you simply can’t hear him.
Yet, when you allow your selfish ways to create space for his sacred will – God has a stage to show off. When you allow dialogue to give way to deep seeking – direction makes an appearance. When you strangle fear – fear of God lets you breathe again.
7 Biblical Benefits of Getting Quiet Before God
1. When your mouth shuts, you appear wise and discerning to others.
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. Prov. 27:28
2. You dwell in the the comfy and cared-for knowledge that God cannot and will not leave or forsake you. Not only this, but you find Godly prosperity and good success.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Josh 1:8
3. The filing cabinet of your mind has room to store fear of the Lord – and all the resulting wisdom that accompanies it.
Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Sam. 12:24
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Prov. 9:10
4. By listening, considering and blocking the VIP door to your mind, you make space for things that bring peace, life and renewal.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil. 4:8-9
5. The impossible becomes possible by the strength of prayer. You can walk down the painful, but glory-filled, roads you’d normally run from.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mk. 1:35-36
6. You land at transformed, rather than conformed. With more confidence you head towards what is good, pleasing and perfect in this world.
Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God–what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. Ro. 12:2
7. You ponder, praise and get passionate about your fist love – and then God delivers you.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Ps. 34:7
Solitude gives way for the magnitude of the gospel to resound.
Rather than God fighting the rush hour of the world, trying to move above fray of a believer’s heart and or squeezing into the small space left for Godly awareness – quiet makes space . In the quiet, God bakes activated love.
We find more than we could ever ask for.
Not by posturing for it, but by seeking him in it.
When we seek him, we find him.
When we find him, we can’t help but share him.
We open our mouths, we speak life.
We speak life, because we found life.
Loudly. Confidently. Boldly.
“Quiet” works out loud proclamations of glory.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mk. 16:15
Beautiful ponderings. So true that it’s not in the posturing, but in the seeking: the leaning into Our God. God’s teaching me to slow to respond to His quiet invitations. They’re extended throughout my day, but I often busy myself with things that don’t matter and miss the opportunities extended. Keeping our mouths shut is a good one too: am learning the importance of that in parenting and discipline. Thank you for turning us to Christ.
Yes! I’ve gotten so that I look forward to waiting in the mini-van for my kids. So much lovely solitude in the busy school parking lot! Who would think that holy ground can co-exist with a steering wheel?
Happened to read your comment here, Michele, and thought, this is such a good tactic–or realization, that those waiting times are opportunities for lovely solitude, even amid the crowd. Rescues from a lot of potential impatience, too. I want to remember this in the coming new month, think I’ll note it in my journal…
Helpful hints – thank you! Such a help for Bible study time.
Wow, all this from a five-minute word prompt! Great, important points, too. (I’m impressed.)
That retorting, rebutting, and formulating in my mind is a major hindrance for me, too. That’s why I often need an extended time of quiet, just to get the gears to wind down to a halt! Great post.
Kelly,
Today as my teenage son and I were talking about the importance of good rhetoric we discuss much what you share here. The ability to be quiet until we need to speak, to be eloquent for the sake of drawing others to Him can truly on come when we see that words ought to be used in a way that is not thrown about carefree and undirected. St. Augustine said, “Elegant speakers give pleasure, wise ones salvation.” Sometimes our quietness is not just for us to hear His voice, but for us to hear His heart for others so that we can be soul-winning and salvation leading.
😉 You always have a blessing in store when you write.
Thanks for leading us to consider to value our words.
Blessings,
Dawn
Being quiet before the Lord and praising Him in my spirit brings benefits that far outweigh the supposed lost time of activity. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to NOT being still before the Lord. He just seems to make it so worth my while.