Goodness Gracious: 14 Unfiltered Devotions for This Sometimes-Too-Serious LifeSample

A Little Less Talk

Be still, and know that I am God. PSALM 46:10

Recently, I went shopping and ran into someone I had met before (multiple times, apparently). She was so sweet, so kind, and clearly had a great memory. I, on the other hand, was experiencing the biggest brain fart of my life. With a forced smile and a clinical case of airheadedness, I did what any ditzy chick would do: only talked about myself. It was safer this way, foolproof, a way to cope with my own embarrassment. My internal dialogue was brutal: Dude, go take some fish oil or something, because your memory is like Dory’s from Finding Nemo right now. Of course, I remembered exactly who she was as I walked to my car. See? If you had only shut up for two seconds and let her talk, you would have remembered her, I told myself. Goodness gracious, how mortifying.

This encounter made me realize something. How often is it, when we pray, we’re so busy talking about our own lives and our own problems, that we fail to remember who we’re talking to? Instead of getting to know the God of the universe and allowing Him to speak, we monopolize the conversation as if the universe revolves around us.

The best way to get to know our precious heavenly Father is in the stillness. Sitting with Him in silence gives Him the opportunity to speak. When we release control in our prayer life, He reveals Himself mightily and steers us in the right direction. Practicing silence in prayer helps us to “practice the pause” in other areas of life—we will start to pause before assuming, pause before responding, pause before acting. Just like exercise strengthens our physical muscles and allows our body to operate at its best, silence before God strengthens our spiritual muscles and allows His character to shine through us.

Find a place of serenity and solitude in your home. Remove all distractions, take deep breaths, and fix your eyes on Jesus. Ask Him to speak to you. Imagine His arms wrapped around you. Focus on His mercy, glory, grace, and majesty. Oh, what a good friend we have in Jesus!

God, I'm here. Meet me in the stillness, speak to me in the silence. I am giving You full control, and I want more of You in this moment. Amen.