Be Still...and Know

Sometimes, I wish my ears were tilted upwards.
~Laurie Beth Jones

Seriously…I really do wish that!

I suspect if I could ask God what areas of my prayer life could use some improvement, it wouldn’t surprise me if he put the listening part at the top of the list.

Every time I see the above quote, which I made into a bookmark back in 1999, I think, “There it is, the thing I still have not been able to do better at in my prayers.” (Note: among others!)

“The world says, ‘Be active; be busy; be industrious.’ But God says, ‘BE STILL; be quiet; don’t rush.’ This is not just a cessation of activities, but a quietness of heart and spirit in which we are aware of His presence. In the center of our soul is a place where God dwells, and where, if we enter and close out every other sound, He will speak to us.’
~Millie Stamm

Psalm 46 makes it pretty clear that the knowing and listening go together. Some of my theologian friends could probably inform us as to just how forceful the “Be still” can be translated from its original context (feel free to comment!)

I suspect that the things we know about God when we are going through our busy, activity filled days might be quite different from the things we learn to know about God when we’ve found that still, quiet place in our hearts. I sure hate to think I’m missing out on that other side by not making listening a more regular part of my prayer life. I’m glad God is a patient teacher…and he talks to us through our hearts and not our ears, anyway.