Breathingbook

Greetings! I wanted to just do a regular post away from the study. I’ll continue to pray about that. This one’s about silence…

Life can be joyful, exciting, exhilarating, adventurous, etc… Surely, we all love to experience good times, but for many, this time of year can be really trying. This post is for all of you. may God’s peace be with you!

When times are trying for us, sometimes just being around other believers nips it in the bud. Othertimes, however, we just might need some practical advice: What do we do when times are difficult?

Focusing on scripture like…

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

…will surely help, as also many other verses in God’s Word.

One could try simply reading God’s Word out loud to oneself – that’s like speaking particles of Light (Jn 1:7-9) into your spirit! Singing praises to God will also help, as will doing a little dancing before the Lord, as David did (2Sam 6:14). If you speak in tongues, that will help, (just keep doing so until you feel something lift). Praying for others will also amazingly help you to feel better, but there also another way: try focusing on silence.

What’s focusing on silence? Well, Jesus went silent’y to the cross (Acts 8:32, see below). If you think about it, sometimes thinking about difficult things that upset us simply exacerbates and drives us into speaking out about those things which makes it worse . Now, I’m not saying don’t pray about things. What I am saying is that sometimes it’s unfruitful to pray/say the same things over and over. After all, Jesus told us not to do that.

Mat 6:7-8 But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not therefore like them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.

When we’re upset, sometimes our thoughts can go round and round in our minds and get us into quite the funk. If you step away from your thoughts for a time and just focus on the silence of your emotions, you can redirect your spirit into a better direction. Step back from the thoughts and just examine your emotions. What feeling are you feeling? For example, take what you’re feeling emotionally and change that into a feeling of Love ( for God is Love).

1 Jn 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

It’s all about how to NOT think about the things that can drag us down. Of course we do need to address things, but look to Jesus as the ultimate example of how to get through something extremely trying.Jesus did His praying at Gethsemane (Lk 22:41-45) and then went “silently” to the cross.

Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth.

As Jesus went to the Cross, He did not open His mouth. He did not need to voice His concern over and over. He just went and was silent.

Silence in faith is a very powerful thing, my fellow believers. Notice how Jesus was silent, but oh, how His silence continues to speak!

Consider the sound of just one drop of Christ’s blood as it hit the earth at the foot of the cross?

Selah