Stillness and Silence
Signs of the Spirit
Discuss where you have seen God's Spirit at work this week. How have you experienced grace in a new way through Christian practice? Discuss any joys or struggles you had. How is it with your soul?
Purpose
Because we long for Christ to be formed in us, we make this covenant to tend the fires of our souls so that our longing for Christ may never be extenguished and that our lives will be set ablaze with his love.
Instruction
The Dividends of Silence
Food is satisfying. We feel its effects in a full stomach, increased energy, and improved mental focus. We expect to eat three meals a day plus snacks. None of us likes to go too long without a bite to eat, something to fill ourselves up. Think of a time when you were really hungry. How did you feel when you finally got to eat?
Spiritual writer Morton Kelsey compares our physical need for food with our spiritual need for silence. He says that as the body needs regular intake of food to sustain health, the soul needs regular periods of silence in order to thrive.
Write your thoughts on these questions:
♦ How long could you survive without food?
♦ How long could you survive without silence?
♦ When do you have periods of silence in your life?
♦ Are you comfortable with silence? Why or why not?
Silence Scares Me
Silence can be frightening. One young person said, "I don't know what to do with silence. I always have music or the television on, even if I'm alone and have no one to talk to." Does this sound familiar?
♦ Why do you think we are uncomfortable with silence?
♦ Have you ever had a time when you enjoyed silence?
Our world is filled with sounds. We are rarely in total silence. Writer Dallas Willard challenges his readers to consider their inner emptiness if they must always surround themselves with noise. Take the time right now to sit absolutely quiet for one minute and discover what you hear when your voice is silent. Discuss:
♦ What sounds did you hear?
♦ Would you have paid attention to those sounds if they were in the background of conversation?
♦ What were you thinking about during the silence?
God Can Be in the Silence
Select someone to read aloud the story of how Elijah met God at Horeb. This passage occurs when the prophet Elijah ran away because Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. Elijah is discouraged and wants to die because he feels his life's work is a failure. Read 1 Kings 19:11-15 to see what happens next.
The Lord was not in the wind. The Lord was not in the earthquake. The Lord was not in the fire. When Elijah finally faced the "sheer silence" or "still, small voice," he could hear God. What does this story say to you?
Befriending the Silence
For centuries the breath prayer has existed as a way to connect with God. For some it is a way to befriend the silence; it gives you something to do as you begin to experience holy silence. As you repeat the prayer, its words eventually become background so you can be open to hearing what God might say. You can choose your own breath prayer and then repeat it over and over in rhythm with the inhale and exhale of your breath. First, choose a simple phrase that summarizes what you may need from your relationship with God right now. You might choose a line from a song or a phrase of Scripture, as long as it is not too wordy. (You want to fit all the words on your inhale and exhale, and you don't want to hyperventilate!) Or you could use something like, "Be with me, God"; "Jesus, help me follow you"; "Spirit, give me strength"; "Gracious God, fill me with love"; or "Guide me, Savior."
Rehearsal
Think of a prayer that you will use or select one from above. Sit with bodies stilled and palms upturned on knees to spend time in silence. Breathe deeply in and out as you begin to breathe your prayer to God. After three to five minutes, close the silence with an "amen." Discuss what the experience was like.
Play some peaceful music and try to sit in stillness to listen. Since most of us are used to being physically active, this may be challenging! Close your eyes to better concentrate on being still. Sit absolutely still without moving a muscle and become aware first of physical stillness. Then, move your focus onto your inward stillness. When the song ends, talk about what it felt like to be absolutely still.
Involving
What kind of ripples might (or have) come about from practicing stillness and silence? How could your daily routine change by the transformation taking place in your soul? Discuss how you might see all areas of your life—home, school, nature, community, world, job, paying bills, and so forth—connected in a new way based on your spiritual formation journey.
Tomorrow
√ Take a silent walk by yourself through your neighborhood. Use this as a time of meditation, of opening yourself to God. Try to use all of your senses to appreciate the beauty of creation around you.
√ Find a place where you can be by yourself in silence. Read Isaiah 43:l-5a, substituting your own name for "O Jacob" in verse one. Get comfortable and take a few deep breaths. Then read the personalized verses from Isaiah over and over, slowly. Try to picture yourself resting in God's hands or loving embrace. Imagine that God is speaking these words directly to you.
√ Designate a period of time when you will "fast from words." You may not be totally able to remain silent but see if you can focus on staying as quiet as possible. If you must speak, choose your words carefully. Remember these words from Ecclesiastes 5:2: "Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few."
√ Find a place where you can be still by yourself in silence. Set a timer for five minutes, then close your eyes, sit up straight, and relax into the silence. You might want to begin with a prayer like, "O God, be with me now." Don't try to make anything happen. When distracting thoughts come, refocus on the silence or repeat the prayer.
√ Make time to pray your breath prayer. You could designate certain times of day (for example, when you awaken and just before you go to sleep), or certain actions (for example, every time you brush your teeth), or an amount of time (for example, set a timer for two minutes).
This is one of forty-four life-forming practices from Soul Tending edited by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster, Nashville, TN, Abingdon Press, 2002. Reprinted with permission. Click here to buy the book.
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