Being quiet can be our greatest weapon.
Seems like it should be easy. But… it is always a work in progress.
Teachers have more effective strategies now, but during my earlier years in the classroom, an often-used strategy was to give students ‘the look’ followed by the words, “Be quiet.”
I am fairly certain God sometimes gives me ‘the look’ and I’m 100 percent certain He tells me to be quiet.
Quiet can be defined as a place, time, or situation without much noise, activity, disturbance, or interruption. Finding quiet is easier said than done.
Here’s a way to start:
• Be quiet AND listen. Quiet the mind and the soul will speak. Find private moments in our day – early morning, late night, taking walks, in the yard, on the porch, places in nature… whatever works for you.
I have two favorite quiet spots for listening time. One is early wake up, while the family sleeps. Early mornings are great! The other is alone car time. I can be at home all day trying to figure something out, but when I get in the car to run an errand, it seems that God always pops a much needed idea right into my head.
• Be quiet WHEN we listen. The quieter we are, the more we will hear. Speak only when we have something to say, not because we have to say something. We tend to regret what we say more often than we regret what we don’t say. I like this quote: A wise man once said… nothing.
The AND and the WHEN make a difference. The AND is about letting God speak. The WHEN is about letting others speak.
Talk less? Listen more? Why not?
Seek it.
Savor it.
Lamentations 3:26 says that it is good that we both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
• Quiet wait is worth it.
1 Peter 3:4 says that a quiet spirit is of great price in the sight of God.
• Quiet spirit is valuable.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 says that it is better to have a handful of quietness than both hands full of travail and vexation of spirit.
• Quiet handful is better.
In case your New Year’s resolution has fallen by the wayside like mine, let’s try this Mid-Year’s Resolution: I will have a quiet wait, I will have a quiet spirit, and I will be a quiet handful.
Shh….

Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com