Zephaniah1:7
7 Be silent before the Sovereign LORD,
for the day of the LORD is near.

The Day of the LORD is when all God’s plans come to fulfillment. It is a joyous and scary day for disciples. Joyous, because finally the new creation is complete and the world is set to right. Scary, as it is also a time we honestly realize how much we need God and how much we have failed him. Somber and joyous together make a good combination for silence.

Pray for a sense of urgency always to be obedient to God.

Habbakkuk 2:20
20 But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.”

I chuckle when I think of this text used to try to get people quiet in church services. The opposing team pulls out, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” and we can start “Fight Club.” There are times to connect with each other and there are times to listen. A little silence can be powerful, especially at worship.

Quietly pray for the worship at your church before you arrive.

Lamentations 3:26
26 So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord.

I would never think of bragging about my salvation. I certainly praise my Savior, however. It’s all about him. In the meantime, I want to serve others, reaching some with the good news that I heard for the first time long ago. I never get tired of hearing it.

Pray that the astounding hope of Jesus in your life never gets old.

Isaiah 53:17
7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Jesus knows his suffering and death are for us. So, he takes it as it comes and he let’s all the injustice of it die with him. That injustice he goes through turns out to be our healing and eternal life. We deserve what he received, so we might receive him. How could I worship any other??

Thank Jesus for what he has done.

Isaiah 32:17
17 And this righteousness will bring peace.
Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.

When we are right with God, we can handle all the “drama” that comes our way. Notice, I didn’t say we won’t have troubles, it’s just that we face them with God as our partner and so they aren’t really troubles in the long run, are they?

Pray for God’s eyes when you face challenges in your life.

Isaiah 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me
and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.

We don’t want to end up like God’s people, whom Isaiah is speaking to here. They are not willing to listen. It’s always a good idea to listen to God, but you can’t listen if you are doing all the talking.

Pray for God to guide your listening in prayer, as well as your requesting.

Ps 131.2
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

A child learns to trust that he/she will be fed by his/her mother, and no longer needs to cry out when hungry. Same goes for us with God. We do not have to have our needs met by God if he doesn’t agree. A few less “give me this/ give me that’s” in our prayers might be just what God needs to “hear.”

Pray for satisfaction of what you have already been given.

Ps 62.1
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

Without knowing I get to live with Jesus forever, I would have great fear wondering if I measure up. Thank God Jesus dies for us while we are yet sinners. We don’t earn what is not ours to possess. Life with God forever comes through Jesus, not my effort.

Pray for an extra anointing of God’s grace today.

Ps 39.9
I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.

When we sin against God there is no court of appeals. We are 100% guilty 100% of the time. We can’t talk our way out it. All that is left is to throw ourselves on the mercy of the court. Thank God for our prosecutor who ends up being our defense, as well. The honorable Jesus.

Pray for honesty in your confession.

Ps 4.4
Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.

There is no law that says we have to speak up every time something ticks us off. It may be just as good for us to leave it inside and let it die out as it is releasing it, to “get it off my chest.” Many don’t have a hard time lashing out in anger, but few are skilled at letting it die inside, even though this may be as good or better a response.

Pray for patience and holding your tongue.