Job 13:5
If only you could be silent!
That’s the wisest thing you could do.

In this day of instant recordings, instant blogging, instant everything, everything you say can and will be used against you, if someone decides they want to put you down. Public figures can no longer deny saying something they said. Now, they can only say, “I didn’t mean what you think I meant.”

Leaving things unspoken unless our speaking is absolutely necessary to bring good into the situation may be a discipline to take on if you are challenged by speaking too much.

Pray for the ability to be quiet.

Job 6:24
24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.”

If I stay busy enough, then I don’t have to be concerned about my sin. Too many things to do, right now, urgent and compelling– to notice what I am already doing that is wrong or what I am not doing that would be right. Clever Tempter, good luck, God now has my attention.

Honestly confess the things you have done or left undone in the last week that have gotten in the way of God.

1 Kings 19:12
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came the sound of sheer silence.

“Sound of sheer silence.” With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel, God knows about this first. This is not a koan, as in Buddhist thought. “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” and such. Literally, to truly hear from God it is a much a matter of our preparation to hear as it is his availability to communicate with us.

What is God saying to you at 12 noon today?

1 Samuel 1:3
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk.

Nothing like prayer to help on the booze budget. Now we know why they call it, “spirits.” Hannah is not drunk, however. She is just concentrating in the quiet of the hour. Focusing on her God. Praying intensely. Is intense prayer so rare for us that it seems unusual?

Pray intently for the Holy Spirit to come to you for a set period of time. “Spirit fill me.”

Tuesday
Genesis 24:21
Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

Communication is about 90% non-verbal according to communication mavens. We hear with our “eyes.” Also, practically, we all know what we miss in conversation because we are not really listening as much as trying to think of what we are going to say next.

With God, our richest communication can occur by just paying attention to the world around us and see where he shows up.

Pray for deep listening skills with loved ones.

Friends-

We have been focusing on scriptural passages that deal with issues of practical living with God (the “with-God” life), and actively praying about this. A key discipline of growth and renewal for Christians is practicing silence and solitude. In our information overload era, these are among the toughest ways to open up to the Spirit.

So, of course, we will do just that for the remainder or the year. I don’t know about you, but I always get a little frazzled from now until New Year’s. Not now! We are going to get a Bible vitamin every week day, starting today. Enjoy!

Silence: Closing off our souls from “sounds,” whether noise, music, or words, so that we may better still the inner chatter and clatter of our noisy hearts and be increasingly attentive to God (The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible)

Spend some time in quiet today and pray for guidance on this.

Rev. 22:5
And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

When we are with God forever there will be no darkness. Everything will be completely out in the open. We will live exactly as God has designed us to live.

This life with God has already begun with the resurrected Jesus. We have glimpses of what will be our eternity, today. We call this the “Kingdom Life.” Notice it isn’t sitting back plucking at a harp and eating bon bons. We will reign with God in the new creation. He is bringing the Kingdom in for good and we are part of this plan. Together we move his Kingdom forward.

Pray for more trust so God can use you in even greater ways.

1 Pet. 5:6-7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

God is ready and able to be a blessing to anyone. In the long run, there is no worry or care that can stop God from blessing us. All that is necessary is a desire to be blessed. Do you want God in your life?

Come to Jesus.

Pray for God to renew your relationship together, or begin it.

1 Pet. 3:12
“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”

Whose side is God on? Those who are always looking in his direction. Those who look to him for life. Those who follow him and repent when they stray.

Who does God oppose? Those who do evil. So, Whose side do you want to be on?

Pray for common sense when it comes to God.

Heb. 13:6
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

When it comes to following Jesus or following people always choose Jesus. There is nothing someone else can do for you or to you that is greater than what Jesus can do. This works in all areas of life. Jesus is the best partner you can possibly have.

Pray for progress in the confidence you have in Jesus.