SILENCE

I believe that when the Scriptures declare that men “ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Lk 18:1b), that they are speaking of living in a state of open communication with God, not necessarily jabbering at Him nonstop for hours. Many people say, “I am going to pray for a certain amount of time.” They ramble on in prayer for hours on their knees, and they end up watching the clock while they utter mindless rhetoric, trying to get in the specified amount of time in prayer.

Let me ask you, would you want someone to talk to you like that? True friends can drive down a road and lapse in and out of conversation, deeply enjoying each other’s company – all without any obligation to maintain a steady rhythm of rhetoric. Their communication is just an awareness of the presence of someone they know and understand. We don’t need to labor to create what is already there. I am glad my Savior knows what my speech and my silence suggest. I need not labor to create what we already share in the secret place of our hearts!

What is required of us? We are called to live in a state of openhearted communication with the Lord. Yes, we feel vulnerable when we realize that our hearts are completely exposed before God. Yet every one of us desperately needs to have someone who is able to help us, someone who is able to understand the issues that are etched on the tablets of our heart!

- T D Jakes –


I think that in any friendship, when we feel comfortable with silence, it has reached a place of depth in that friendship. We do not need to make conversation unnecessarily but enjoy the presence of a friend.

I think it is the same in our walk with God. There will be times when all we want to do is sit in His presence and be with Him. Don’t feel guilty about it. He enjoys your presence too..

Prayer is not asking for things so that we can be satisfied with life – getting all that we want for our selfish purposes. Prayer is communication and relationship and being in the presence of God, where even silence becomes meaningful because we made time to be with Him.

What makes friendship special is the ability to listen, a pat on the shoulder, a smile and – an understanding that goes beyond words… there will be times of course when we need to respond with words...words of encouragement lifts one another up. It builds faith and strength in one another....but let us know that there will be times when the presence of another is enough.

-jo-