The Praise of Silence

Eight years ago, nursing a broken heart, I carried my bible and sad self across the sand of the beach up the block from my parent’s house. I plopped myself onto a towel, wrapped myself in a warm sweatshirt and read the Word Alive.

It was on that beach, in that sweatshirt, sitting on that towel that I first read these words:

“Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God; And also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all.”

Psalm 65:1-2, The Message

Those words changed me.

At the time I was at a crossroads: I had just left my job, seriously injured my back, broken up with my boyfriend and more importantly, I had just begun to sense the Lord calling me into ministry.

I’ll be honest, it was not the best time for me.

And then I read those words.

“Silence is praise to you…God…and also obedience.”

That verse was the fuel to get me through one of the single most trying times in my life. I still say those words daily and remind myself of those beach moments. Where I would sit before my God, completely silent, offering obedience, listening.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the needs and wants of our every day. I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t ask for things from our God but I do think we need to be still and know that He is God.

Would we choose our words more carefully if we really wrapped our minds around the truth that you & I speak to The Living God? Have we forgotten His eternal Holiness in our quest for comfortable lives? have we lost our sense of awe?

I want to be a woman who will shed her constant asking and quietly sit at His throne for the sole purpose of knowing Him more.

What would happen if we offered Him not only obedience but our silence as well? What if instead of constantly speaking, we stopped to listen? I wonder, has our God been waiting to speak to our hearts if only we would quiet down before Him?

Could it be, today, Zion-dwelling God is asking for your quiet?

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What is the Lord asking of you lately? Do you often set aside time to sit in His presence without filling it up with words and worries and wants?

Do share!

Kristen Schiffman

A New Yorker living in Texas, Kristen is just trying to make sense of sweet tea and A/C units. Together with her best friend & husband, Eric, she enjoys sketching out new ideas over Starbuck’s. As the Founder and Ministry Director of Exemplify Online & Magazine, Kristen (along with her team of writers!) daily ministers to women across the world. Previously writing bible study curriculum for various Christian ministries, Kristen now writes for the ministry of Exemplify. She contributes regularly to The Internet Café , has been a featured speaker at A Woman Inspired Conferences and continues to write and teach women through in depth bible studies. Kristen’s passion is equipping those in leadership to serve with excellence, encouraging women to get to know God through His Word and challenging women to live out their God-given purpose.

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