The power of silence (Part 2)
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Silence is powerful but it has become a lost art. Some people find silence uncomfortable and unfamiliar. The constant dopamine hit in our brains makes us restless and unable to stay still. Living in a constantly distracting and noisy world poses dangers, as it leads to “disconnection”.
It is time to connect with God, ourselves and others through silence. Silence may bring you an intimate moment. Imagine under the starry sky, you and your loved one are in awe of the breathtaking sky that leaves you speechless and share a kiss. During this romantic scene, there isn't much talking, and you don't talk while kissing; maybe if talking too much, it may ruin the intimate moment.
In a similar way, imagine sitting down with Jesus on a couch. We often talk too much to Him and don't listen to Him much, or sometimes He simply wants to be present with you.
Silence allows a connection with God that cannot be expressed by words. The silence reveals our deepest yearnings, restores our well-being, gives us rest, and reminds us that we do not need to impress Him by doing anything or talking. Silence also grounds us in His love and allows the outside world to less influence our inner life.
The power of silence can help us connect to ourselves and establish internal peace. We may find ourselves numbing or medicating our inner pain with external stimuli, a form of escapism because we don't want to face the inner turmoil and grief. Quietness enables us to hear our inner voice clearly, to know ourselves better, and to invite God to heal and restore us.
Silence is like exercising, we need to be "trained" for silence, especially with the smartphone heavily influencing our lives. To become familiar with silence, I suggest a 21-day silence challenge to prioritize our quiet time with God and incorporate silence into our daily activities.
Take 5 minutes to sit in silence with God in "silent prayer." Start small and add more time later.
Performing everyday tasks without using smartphones, such as cooking, housework, walking, brushing your teeth, especially in bed.
If you are in a silent moment, listen to your inner voice or what thoughts you are ruminating and offer them to God as prayers.
Less is more! Enjoy silence, and may God give us inner peace and clarity as we do so.
Blessing prayer: Jesus rules over our hearts so that we can meet with you in quietness and silence. In Jesus’ name, Amen
