He Speaks in the Silence

He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. – (2 Kings 4:33, NLT)

 

Elisha modeled how we are meant to pray. So often, life is jam-packed with distractions that keep us from hearing the voice of the Lord when we come before Him.

“One of the reasons we need a quiet place to pray is because God’s answers are often quiet. We must be still in order to follow His lead.” – (Adventurous Prayer)

It is only in the hearing that we are able to begin doing that which we are called to do. If we don’t listen, how can we learn? If we don’t learn, how can we be led? May we be intentional to find a quiet space in our day where we can spend solo time in prayer, so that we may clearly hear His leading in all things.

 

As we come to pray,

Let’s find quiet space;

So we better hear,

His love and His grace.

Though in a whisper,

His answers are clear;

He makes the way known,

If we seek to hear.

Let every heart,

With longing, come seek;

He’s gentle and kind,

Gives strength to the weak.

A new life awaits,

Those who seek shall find;

Ask and He answers,

Gives new hope defined.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You desire time spent in communication with us, where our focus is entirely on You. Forgive us for not getting ourselves quiet before You. Teach us to be intentional with our time, so that we are still in Your presence, creating opportunity to hear what You have to speak to our hearts. Show us how to love those around us in the way that You are calling us to love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we make time to be alone before You in silence, so that we may better hear Your heart. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For the Lord your God will bless you, …and your joy will be complete. – Deuteronomy 16:15

 

 

To Find Rest

As Jesus and His disciples reconvened after being sent out in pairs to share of the hope that is held in Him, Jesus recognized that these men were in need of nourishment and rest. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – (Mark 6:31) 

Though the work they had done was very important and invaluable to the spreading of the Gospel, Jesus valued each of them individually, and was more concerned with their well-being, than how much they could accomplish.  He still sees each of us the same way.  God’s work is good and necessary, yet all of us need times of rest and refreshing in order to be effective.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – (Matthew 11:28)

Let not pursuit,

of service to God;

take away rest,

on this path we trod.

For we’re not called,

to toil in vain;

but to honor,

the Lord’s holy Name.

How can we bring,

God our very best;

if we are worn,

and choose not to rest?

In His great strength,

may balance be found;

to serve and rest,

let His joy abound.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us and care for us personally and individually.  Thank You that You are more concerned with who we are in You than with what we can accomplish.  Thank You that You are the One who will call, equip and empower us to do what is asked, when we are asked, and that You will provide the rest that we need.  Forgive us for trying to power through when we are meant to rest, or for not slowing down long enough to truly listen to all that You have for us to hear.  Thank You that You are patient and kind, and that You lovingly guide us in the way that we are meant to go.  Teach us to trust You more, so that we may depend on You for everything, even rest for our weariness.  May we love well, as we are loved by You, and may many come to know the rest and renewal that is available to all who seek You.  Be exalted through our every word and deed, and may we find rest in You.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

When times are good, be happy. – Ecclesiastes 7:14

Place to Pray

No effort is required to discover the multitude of things that are vying for our attention on a daily basis.  Chaos, noise and duty seem to never be silenced in the daily doing of life.  WIth all of life’s demands, how are we meant to find a quiet place to withdraw and pray?  It is a serious dilemma, as our strength comes from God, and we are strengthened in Him, by spending time in His very presence.

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” – (Luke 5:16)

Jesus, who was sought after everywhere He went, was followed by crowds of  sick and sinful, who were each aware of their need to be near Him.  In order for Jesus to love, touch and teach all who would come, He had to withdraw and spend time on His own with His Heavenly Father.  If the Son of God needed to pause from loving and serving, how much more is it necessary for us?  He does not call us to run ourselves ragged, but rather He simply calls us to come.  As we invest our heart in Him, we are strengthened and equipped to love and serve others well.  His help and His heart for people is present, when we look to Him as we go forth.

May my heart be still,

before You, my Lord;

I want to hear You,

my whole life is Yours.

Let me draw away,

from all of the noise;

so in the silence,

I shall hear Your voice.

Help quiet the storm,

that rages around;

may my eyes see You,

and my heart be found.

Teach me how to pray,

in Spirit and truth;

strengthen my resolve,

and make me brand new.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us the way to You.  Thank You Jesus, for making the way for us to come and pray without having to offer sacrifices again and again.  Thank You that You were the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all.  May we never forget, nor take the greatness of Your gift for granted.  Forgive us for allowing the busyness of life to distract us from withdrawing to quiet places to pray.  Please show us how we can prioritize, so that prayer is present in our daily lives.  Thank You that prayer is for our benefit – an opportunity to come and commune with You, the Creator of ALL.   May we embrace the encounters we have with You each day, and be strengthened to love others well, as You have loved us.  May many come to know the great gift of salvation that is available to all who call on Your Name and believe that what You say is true.  Be glorified, Lord God.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Peace through Prayer

image by MaryLu Tyndall

God needs no production

but wants a heart that’s true.

Prayer should not be a show,

He longs to hear from you. (us)

In honesty alone,

we need find quiet place,

to be real before Him,

so we may sense His grace.

When we shift our focus,

from self unto our God;

His peace overwhelms us,

into His courts we trod.

(Responding to Matthew 6:5-6)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not need, nor want, a show or production when we pray.  Thank You that You desire our hearts to be honest and true before You, in quiet humility.  Thank You that as we remove our focus from ourselves and fix our eyes securely on You, Your grace and presence overwhelm us.  Forgive us for allowing our focus to fix on anything other than You.  Lead us by Your love, to learn how to be in constant communion with You.  May many come to know You through the peace that we present in Your love.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present