Silence & Solitude

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Scripture

1 Kings 19:11-13

God said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Read more…

Psalm 46:10-11

“Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Looking to Sunday

by Elaine Poproski

“Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). These are some of my favourite words in the Bible.

Do you remember back in January when we started talking about Spiritual Disciplines? We started by considering the idea of friendship with God – the idea that God actually wants to be our friend – and that he wants us to know him.[1] The question that raised for us, was whether or not we want to know him. I suggested we take the words of Psalm 42:1 – 2 and read them over and over again each day until they became part of us. I love that for some of you, these words continue to be your daily prayer – words that are deeply embedded in your heart, mind, and soul.

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

That’s how Psalm 46:10 is for me. “Be still and know that I am God.” These words live in me and rise up in me when I find myself getting overwhelmed or worried. They remind me to breathe, to pause, to shut out the noise and chaos of the world around me, and simply remember God. In those simple words are packed everything I know about God: his grace and love, his power, his faithfulness, his goodness. I’m reminded that he hasn’t forgotten about me or walked away from me. I’m reminded that all my strivings and worries are known by him. I’m reminded that if I but seek first his kingdom, everything else will fall into place as it should.[2]

On Sunday we’re going to reflect on stillness and silence and solitude. We’re going to consider these Spiritual Disciplines that are so essential to grounding us in God’s presence in a world that is busy and noisy and packed with people. As you prepare for Sunday, I invite you to take the words of Psalm 46:10 – 11, write them out, post them somewhere you’ll see every day (maybe on your bathroom mirror), and read them over and over again, allowing them to find a place to live inside you.

“Be still and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

[1] You can refresh your memory by checking out the January 9th sermon, posted on our Walmer website.
[2] See Matthew 6:25 – 34.