18 - May - 2009

some ideas for active silence

Date: 18 May, 2009  |  Posted By: Brian  |  Category: encounter, Faith

solitude in prayer does not mean inactivity. solitude involves intentionality. it is the directed action of quieting our soul for the purpose of listening to God, communing with our heart, and purposing our direction toward His heart.

solitude is far more than inactivity.

here are a few suggestions for practicing and conditioning your heart toward personal solace in prayer:

  • journal – write your thoughts, feelings, observations, questions, memories of where you are in your journey with Christ.
  • draw – visually depict your heart, sketch what you see, let your talent be a tool for hearing from God and communing in your heart.
  • meditate – contemplate in your heart and mind a specific verse or passage of Scripture.
  • sing – allow the language of your heart to flow with the words of a favorite song .
  • search – look through the Scriptures by topic for answers to the most relevant needs in your life.
  • be grateful – remind yourself and thank God for all that He has and is doing for you.
  • quieting- intentionally keep pushing aside worrisome thoughts about your day, people, your future.
  • relax – focus on the depth of what Christ has done for you that makes you at peace in His presence: full acceptance because of Christ’s death, full peace because of God’s pardon, full rest in His sovereign power over your life, etc.
  • picture – imagine scenes from the Scriptures. drink in their setting, the emotion of the moment, God’s presence there, what you would have done were you there.
  • cry out – hold back nothing in your honesty, vulnerability, confession, and desperation for God. the very real areas of hurt and need in your life are there to draw you to Him. express them with all the intensity you can.

the purpose of personal solace is to mesh your heart with the heart of God. solace may include the exclusion of things that bring noise and distraction. but it most certainly includes the intentionality of rushing into and experiencing the presence of God.

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