WHISPERS TO AND FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
Our Silence Soars
Lord, I feel the soar
of our silence
in the essence
of your being.
It is in this silence
that I know
your greatness.
It is in this silence
that I feel
your love for me.
It is not in the
sounds of the world
that I find you,
but in the silence
of my heart.
It is in this silence
that we become one.
And in that oneness
I never really want
to leave you.
My heart begs you
to let me stay forever
in the loneliness of
our being together.
But my mind knows
this cannot be now.
I am left in this world
for your purpose
to do your will and
be your instrument.
I am not in this
world for me,
even though much
of the time, so sinfully,
I try to be.
No, Dear Lord,
I am in this world
for you to be.
and in your being,
I am.
Dr. Don’s Reflection
In being taught how to pray, I was never taught the importance of silence. I was always taught to say or reciter prayer. I never was taught that prayer was a conversation with God and conversation by definition is not only talking to but hearing from another. No, I was taught that God listened, so I had to talk, talk, and talk and God had to listen, listen, listen. Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is a daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
Yes, yes, yes, Lord, my heart is the interpreter of your great words to my soul. It is in the silence of our togetherness that your words resound with love and care for me and to me.
Dear Lord, how many years of intimacy did I lose because I did not understand that true prayer is in the heart and not on the tongue. Yes, words may go between us for sure, but the Godly conversation is empowered when it leads to silent contemplation. May you bless my prayer life with the continued silence that allows me to connect with you so that in your light, I may see my true self and in doing so repent and more closer to your being.
Dr. Don’s Comment
Your prayer has to include some time to be silent so you can talk and listen to God. In prayer, you cannot always be talking to God with words of memorized prayer or written prayers from a book or pamphlet or even reading the Bible just for the sake of reading it. If in your relationship with God all you do is recite and read without talking and listening to God through the Holy Spirit then how do you create intimacy in your relationship with God.
When do you get a chance to speak and listen to the Lord? Suppose you had a close friend whom you visited regularly and each time you visited with him all you did is talk, talk, talk. Don’t you think at some point your friend will ask you to “shut up” so he can get a word in edgewise, Of course, your friend wants a “give and take” relationship with you. He does not want to be talked to all the time. Your friend is very willing to listen, but that is not all he wants to do.
It is very much like that when you are with the Lord, If all you are doing is praying and saying, and the Lord is looking to get a word to you, and he can’t do it. Thus you end up robbing yourself of great communication with the Lord and the sharing of His wisdom with you.
Jesus Christ wants to speak to you directly through the Holy Spirit. One does not have to be crazy to realize God wants to and does talk to his people, so create a silent period in your prayer time where you can do as was written in Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God’ and in that knowing, God will speak to you and you to Him.