Sometimes Silence is the only way to navigate through the seas of various opinions.
Take note, the stronger the opinion, the more likely it is that agitation will come.Like the swelling sea raging upon the slope of the shoreline, causing huge waves, so “flesh” fuels opinions and thoughts that break forth upon others.
The difference between the carnal and the spiritual is easily discerned because wisdom from above is pure and peaceable.
There have been several things that I remember that have served as stabilizing ballasts while navigating though the turbulent waters of strong opinions.
Take note, the stronger the opinion, the more likely it is that agitation will come.Like the swelling sea raging upon the slope of the shoreline, causing huge waves, so “flesh” fuels opinions and thoughts that break forth upon others.
The difference between the carnal and the spiritual is easily discerned because wisdom from above is pure and peaceable.
There have been several things that I remember that have served as stabilizing ballasts while navigating though the turbulent waters of strong opinions.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
C.S. Lewis says it this way,"The Pure in heart will see God, because that's all they want.”
Opinions crave, even demand agreement from men. Ideas,thoughts,and concepts,will always be a part of the growing process.
Maturity will allow us to ride upon the waves and endurance will become that hope causing seasickness and sighing to flee away.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they are the sons of God. They are in the family. Peacemakers make room in hope for their brothers and sisters to be different even in the same house. Smooth sailing may be nice, but it is the storms that make a man. A lot of people have docked their boat on the shore to enjoy the view; some even criticize from there. But those who have understood all that God has given: love, power and sound mind...will not fear.
They will not always try to flee the storm, rather they will turn their ship to face the wind and they will go places with God; not because they are better than others, but simply because they have
Believed.
They have learned not to limit God by their own understanding, or by what others think.
So when waters get choppy, let your anchor down, and let your Heavenly Father help you ride the waves. There will be a time to steer, but for now stay in the boat and still your heart with silence, His nearness will be enough.
From Streams in the Desert
The Power of Silence
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10).
Is there any note of music in all the chorus as mighty as the emphatic pause? Is there any word in all the Psalter more eloquent than that one word, Selah (Pause)? Is there anything more thrilling and awful than the hush that comes before the bursting of the tempest and the strange quiet that seems to fall upon all nature before some preternatural phenomenon or convulsion? Is there anything that can touch our hearts as the power of stillness?
There is for the heart that will cease from itself, "the peace of God that passeth all understanding," a "quietness and confidence" which is the source of all strength, a sweet peace "which nothing can offend," a deep rest which the world can neither give nor take away. There is in the deepest center of the soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear His still, small voice.
There is in the swiftest wheel that revolves upon its axis a place in the very center, where there is no movement at all; and so in the busiest life there may be a place where we dwell alone with God, in eternal stillness, There is only one way to know God. "Be still, and know." "God is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." --Selected
"All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired of starshine or moonlight or sunrise. The sullen blackness gloomed above us as if it would last forever. And out of the dark there spoke no soothing voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed some wild thunder peal to break the torturing stillness of that over-brooding night.
"But Thy winsome whisper of eternal love spoke more sweetly to our bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across Aeolian harps. It was Thy 'still small voice' that spoke to us. We were listening and we heard. We looked and saw Thy face radiant with the light of love. And when we heard Thy voice and saw Thy face, new life came back to us as life comes back to withered blooms that drink the summer rain."
From Streams in the Desert
The Power of Silence
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10).
Is there any note of music in all the chorus as mighty as the emphatic pause? Is there any word in all the Psalter more eloquent than that one word, Selah (Pause)? Is there anything more thrilling and awful than the hush that comes before the bursting of the tempest and the strange quiet that seems to fall upon all nature before some preternatural phenomenon or convulsion? Is there anything that can touch our hearts as the power of stillness?
There is for the heart that will cease from itself, "the peace of God that passeth all understanding," a "quietness and confidence" which is the source of all strength, a sweet peace "which nothing can offend," a deep rest which the world can neither give nor take away. There is in the deepest center of the soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear His still, small voice.
There is in the swiftest wheel that revolves upon its axis a place in the very center, where there is no movement at all; and so in the busiest life there may be a place where we dwell alone with God, in eternal stillness, There is only one way to know God. "Be still, and know." "God is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." --Selected
"All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired of starshine or moonlight or sunrise. The sullen blackness gloomed above us as if it would last forever. And out of the dark there spoke no soothing voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed some wild thunder peal to break the torturing stillness of that over-brooding night.
"But Thy winsome whisper of eternal love spoke more sweetly to our bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across Aeolian harps. It was Thy 'still small voice' that spoke to us. We were listening and we heard. We looked and saw Thy face radiant with the light of love. And when we heard Thy voice and saw Thy face, new life came back to us as life comes back to withered blooms that drink the summer rain."
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