We need quiet time in the presence of God. Although we want to make all our time time for God, we will never succeed if we do not reserve a minute, an hour, a morning, a day, a week, a month, or whatever period of time, for God and God alone.
This asks for much discipline and risk taking because we always seem to have something more urgent to do and "just sitting there" and "doing nothing" often disturbs us more than it helps. But there is no way around this. Being useless and silent in the presence of our God belongs to the core of all prayer.
In the beginning we often hear our own unruly inner noises more loudly than God's voice. This is at times very hard to tolerate. But slowly, very slowly, we discover that the silent time makes us quiet and deepens our awareness of ourselves and God.
Then, very soon, we start missing these moments when we are deprived of them, and before we are fully aware of it an inner momentum has developed that draws us more and more into silence and closer to that still point where God speaks to us.
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inward/outward wishes you a quiet still point on this sabbath saturday....
This is a thought-provoking quote - thanks!
Surrounded by children and grandchildren, I am basking in their love and joy, settling into the midst of the ordered chaos of their Sat morning everyday lives, and I know God's presence. I don't remember feeling God's presence so intimately when I was in my daughter's place, a young mother with active children. The difference is in the years of meditation and prayer in between. The times of 'being useless and silent' really to build upon themselves, giving us a cushion of peace that carries over into situations of stress and chaos. That small quiet God-filled center grows and envelopes us. An unexpected benefit is that those around us can be caught up in it as well.
God is so good!
I wake up each morning and open my day with a prayer that I pick out the day before, throughout my routine before going to school I am with my father asking for his blessings and to watch over me and my family and friends, when there is weakness give them strength, when they are unsure give them guidance, when they seem angry well just tickle them and embrace them with your love Thank you
I so agree with Lydia only I am in the phase of learning to use the tools of meditation and quiet prayer!! But it is definitely worth it when I do engage in those moments. I have to sometimes push to do them but that's ok, it may take a while!!
What a challenge I am finding it to be to allow myself to be silent and useless. My ability to exist was for so many years was measured by my productivity.
But -- the good news - I am beginning to grasp the concept. YEAH - GOD.
I too know the value firsthand of silence before and with God. It is a matter of discipline with rich rewards to spill over into all areas of one's life and as someone has mentioned earlier, into the lives of those around the individual. Like any discipline or habit, it can fall away if not exercised regularly. I have had to rediscover it's value anew, but I am strengthened by it's renewal on an even deeper level than previously. The Holy Spirit is always generous and forgiving in my experience.
So true, MJ! I am constantly amazed at the abundance and generosity of God, of Spirit. Our spiritual journey into God is a process, lifelong and sustaining. We go through fits and starts, taking little side paths along the way, and gradually we come to know how essential and empowering those still, quiet, 'useless' moments can be. I believe that even the side trips seemingly away from God are used for good when we use them, learn and grow from them. All things work for good.... The Holy Spirit always provides what we need - and more - exactly when we need it. When we make even a little effort to put ourselves into Presence, into the glow of Love and Light, we are always, always richly blessed!
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