READ-THINK-PRAY-REST: God’s Pathway to Peaceنموونە

Silence is a rare commodity for most of us. We are surrounded by machines—computers, tablets, smartphones, televisions, radios and more—that inundate us with noise, humming incessantly like a soundtrack in the movie of our life. 

Then there’s the chatter from others—not in relational dialogue, but through texts, posts, pokes, emails and the lot, which come to us with such urgency we dare not ignore them. Sadly, we’ve forgotten what it’s like to be quiet, and rarely experience the recreating power of silence and solitude.

Nowhere is this more damaging than in our spiritual journey. It feels impossible to quiet our souls, so we avoid time alone with God, or when we do manage a few moments to pray, we chatter away, filling the uncomfortable void with a monologue that leaves us more anxious than before. 

From Genesis to Revelation, we see a relational God--he not only hears the cries of his children but shares his heart with them. Finding peace in his presence comes from learning to silence the noise long enough to listen to that still, small voice. King Solomon offers some striking wisdom about this in our passage today.

Read: Sit quietly and read the passage from beginning to end without stopping. When you finish, read it one more time, asking God to open the eyes of your heart as you meet him here today.

Think: What is the essence of the warning here? Why does he say to guard your heart? Since you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, how would you interpret these instructions? Why are these warnings so stark? How many specific things does King Solomon teach about listening, speaking, words etc. What are they? What does this passage tell you about God? About your relationship with him? 

Pray: As you ponder these verses and what you’ve seen so far, ask God two simple questions: Lord, what are you inviting me to understand from this for my life today? Wait on him, and once you think you’ve heard something, ask this: Lord, how do you want me to respond to this today?

Rest: Sit quietly for a couple of minutes or more in God’s presence. Breathe deeply throughout, offering this prayer whenever your mind wanders: I am here to listen, Lord. When your time is up, thank God for meeting you in His Word.