We live in a fast-paced world with little room for contemplation and silence. If your life is like mine, there is probably not much time in the day when there isn’t some sort of noise going on around you whether it be phones ringing, cars whizzing by, the radio blaring or someone on the TV trying to sell you the latest gadget – it seems there is always some kind of noise and some kind of activity to be involved in. I think that is why it is so difficult for many people to slow down and take the time to be silent with God.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Habakkuk 2:20 says, “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” There is something very powerful that occurs when we are silent before the Lord. We begin to let go of all of the busyness that occupies our bodies, the chatter that fills our mouths, and the noise that clutters our minds and spirits. As we sit silently before the Lord, the personal concerns that weigh heavy on our minds can be set aside and we can begin to hear what weighs on God’s heart for us as He speaks directly to our souls.

Still, with all that is constantly going on around us and the fast pace of this technology-laden world, it can be difficult to find a way to be silent before the Lord. A couple of techniques that I have found useful for achieving silence before the Lord include talking out your thoughts with God either by speaking them or writing them in a journal, and meditating on Scripture.

It may seem counterintuitive, but I have found that when seeking silent fellowship with the Lord, it is often helpful to either speak your thoughts and concerns or write them in a journal first before having that time of silence. It seems we often have so much to say and so many words filling our minds, that getting them out in the open is often the only way that we can truly hear what others are speaking. You may have found that to be true in a conversation you have had with another person. Oftentimes, when you have something bothering you that you want to talk to someone about, you feel like you need to speak your piece and then once that is off of your chest, you can hear from others. I think that is often how we feel about our conversations with God as well. With that in mind, tell God all that troubles you have and ask Him every question you have about all the concerns weighing on your mind. He knows that you need that time to release. Sometimes, just writing things down in a journal helps you process your thoughts…thoughts you didn’t even know you had. Go ahead, tell Him everything, say it, write, even scream it if need be. But remember, the silence comes next and that is the golden time. Once you have said all you need to say, stay in that moment and take the time to just sit and be, to just listen. You may be surprised at how God will minister to your spirit in those times when you have been completely honest with Him and then have allowed Him that space just to speak to your soul or just to be in His presence.

Another way to achieve silence before the Lord can come in the form of meditating on Scripture. There are several different ways you might be able to reflect on Scripture, but one way is to meditate on a particular passage. First, read a passage, such as the one from Habakkuk referenced above:

“The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

Then, meditate on the passage by thinking about the words in smaller phrases:

The Lord

Is in his holy temple;

Let all the earth

Be silent before him.

Think about each phrase, reflect on it, tell God your thoughts on that phrase, tell Him any questions you have relating to that phrase.

Then, pray through the passage. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Pray for God’s revelation and take note of things that come to your mind as you pray.

Lastly, silently wait on the Lord. After you have read the passage, meditated on it phrase by phrase, and prayed for the Lord to reveal Himself through the passage, allow for that precious time of silence. Don’t worry about what God will say or about your ability to hear it correctly, just rest in His presence and be with Him.

After you have spent this time of silence before the Lord, you may find that He reveals something in particular that you need to work on. You may also find that there is nothing in particular that is revealed. Spending that silent time with Him is just like spending silent time with a loved one. It is just about being there, being with Him, very present, allowing Him to talk if need be, allowing Him to be silent if need be. Being silent before God may take some time, you may need to clear out all of the thoughts in your mind either by speaking them, or journaling about them, or you may need to set them aside and think on Scripture as a way to clear your mind before you can find that place of rest in His presence. Nonetheless, there is something very special about investing this time in your relationship with Him that no amount of activity and noise can replace.

Casey West