A Quiet Time and Speaking Time
Yesterday we talked about the first step in prayer, silence before the Lord. When you enter into prayer, you need to eliminate distractions and become quiet. You can’t pray effectively when all around you, such as the children are playing, music is blaring, the TV is on, and people are asking you questions as well as the telephones keep ringing. Does this sound familiar?
Prayer necessitates collecting yourself – your thoughts, your attention, as well as your concentration. We are usually distracted by many things when we come to prayer. The enemy doesn’t want us to be saved; he will do all he can to disturb and distract us from praying effectively. When disturbance takes effect, our bodies are there but we are somewhere else. We might be experiencing all kinds of emotions. Therefore, you need to put yourself in a position where you can be quiet. Let the Lord calm your heart. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
“Peace” in Hebrew means Shalom, which means “more than enough”. God provides everything you need, so you don’t have to be distracted by worries or emotional imbalance when you pray. When you come before the Lord in your private place, be quiet and listen to nothing but Him. The Lord Says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
In relation to this command we can say, “Prayer is the expression of man’s dependency upon God for all things.” I encourage you to spend time in quiet contemplation before the Lord. Don’t worry about speaking. It’s alright to say nothing. Just be quiet and bring your whole self to God in prayer. Calm your heart and come into the quiet place where you can hear Him. That’s when you are really praying. Note: Silence helps bring you into unity of heart and purpose with yourself and God.
Let’s pray: Father, I long to be still and know you. I want to commune with you in the quiet of my heart. Help me find the place in you to calm me down and focus on You whenever I come in Your presence, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 26-27; Mark 14: 27-53
Be Still and Know the Lord; He’s God.
About the writer
Bassey Ekong, Dip Ed, BSc. Ed, B. Ed, M. Ed is an educator/teacher of science on the high school panel of the local board of education in the Ottawa-Carleton region. He’s a psychology of learning specialist. A scholar; always learning, a writer, teacher and trainer, adviser board of directors and pastor of the Light of the Nations ministry international a non-denominational ministry with its headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.