My husband and I enjoy visiting state and national parks. The majestic state and national parks beckon with their lush greenery, towering mountains, and quietness. And, as we stray further into remote areas, the more we encounter an incredible sense of peace in the awe of our surroundings. At Caprock Canyons State Park in Texas, the rolling hills, cloaked in a tapestry of vibrant golden hues, stretch as far as the eye can see, inviting you to get lost in their kaleidoscope of colors. In the heart of the wilderness, surrounded by towering trees and untouched landscapes, I found solace in the blissful embrace of solitude, and I felt a deep sense of God.
These types of moments remind me of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 (NIV); “11 The Lord said, go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” We find God in the quietness.
Quiet Our Souls
Have you ever noticed how fresh snow absorbs sound? It achieves this by lowering ambient noise over a landscape as the trapped air between the snowflakes decreases vibrations. Like the snow, we need to decrease the vibrations of the world, so we connect on a deeper level with our Creator. All those noises crowd out His still, small voice that whispers hope to us. Just like the snow absorbs sounds, we need to train our brains to quiet our souls and tune out the noise of the world for a few minutes each day.
Ways to Quietness
Finding the quietness takes some effort, but it begins with silencing all our human devices. Each morning, I love to sit in the living room and listen to the birds gather in our yards to enjoy some birdseed. No phones, no TV and no computer. They call me to quietness and my heart relaxes, leading me to the perfect frame of mind to sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer. The key is finding a time and place away from distractions. Psalm 46:10 (NIV); “He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Also, start small. Like preparing for anything, it takes practice to master a new skill, and this is no different. Start by committing five minutes of the day. And find a time that works best for you. Maybe you’re not a morning person, so set up a time of quietness in the evening. The important part is to stay consistent in the practice. Psalm 62:5 (NLT); “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
The habit of quietness is something you can improve upon and develop, but it doesn’t always come easily. It takes a little practice and intention to listen to God’s voice and its important because He has something to say to you.
Prayer
Oh Lord, you know my heart better than I know it myself. You know my struggles and you hold each hope and fear in your caring hands. Teach me, LORD, to be still and to know that You are God.
You are in Your holy temple; let all the earth, including my mind and heart, be silent before You, resting in Your sovereignty. Like Elijah, teach me to wait for Your still, small voice and quiet the earthquakes and blazing fires in my life.
Replace my restless doing with inner calm, and help me, like Mary, to sit at your feet in quiet adoration even if there are a million things clamoring for my attention. Just as You spoke over the tumultuous sea and storms, so speak over my heart, Your shalom. Amen.
Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
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Amen!
Thank you Carlo.
I love a winter snowfall. No birds. No sounds but an occasional whistle from a train. Silence. Peace. It’s hard to come by today, but we can work for it, notice it in the night hours, love it. Thanks, Yvonne. God bless!
Thank you Nancy. It does take some effort to find the quietness but so worth it. God bless.
I always need this reminder, Yvonne. I find quietness in my walks in nature, but I need more time with our Father. Thank you for encouraging me to seek His quietness in other aspects of my life.
Thank you Katherine. I too find so much quietness in nature and am working on finding it in the busy times of life. God bless.
I too go for walks where I can enjoy the wonders of His creation and in that still commune with Him in thanks and praise
Geoff
They do inspire so much wonder. Blessings and thanks Geoff.
Thank you for this wonderful message. I am seeking quiet time today amidst an overwhelming “to-do” list. Sharing time with God will renew, refresh, and encourage. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Thank you Melissa. Praying for you to find the quietness today and every day. Blessings my friend
I like your reference to the snow absorbing sound. What a wonderful word picture of letting go of the noise around us to be still and see God.
Thank you Barbara. I always loved how quiet it gets when it snows. God bless.
Beautiful and encouraging post, Yvonne! Thank you for sharing your experiences with the glory and majesty of God’s creation. May we quiet our souls wherever we may be, to enjoy His still, small voice. God bless!
Thank you Melissa. I love sharing about the things God shows me in my life. God bless.
This is incredibly beautiful and speaks to my heart. I often crave the silence. It’s easier to focus and experience God in nature and in stillness, at least for me. As you say, all the noises crowd out God’s still, small voice that whispers hope to us.
Thank you Jessica. The noise of the world causes us to miss out on many things. God bless.
Yvonne, I love this idea of committing to quietness. It’s so necessary in a noisy world. I’ve never heard the explanation of why the snow brings quietness. So interesting. God bless!
Thank you Karen. The quietness gives us so many benefits besides hearing God. It helps our health and stress. God bless.
Step One: Be quiet! 🙂 All kidding aside, I loved this post Ms. Yvonne. In reality though, many today don’t know how to practice quietness. Never been much for snow, as it always meant work (shoveling) for me, but loved the explanation. Like our friend Ms. Katherine, getting out in nature gives me the “Soul prompt” I need to quiet myself and seek, then practice, quietness. Cows work well. God’s blessings my friend.
Thank you JD. I bet you get lots of quiet moments on the ranch in the early morning. And all those moments of quiet, allow you to connect with God and gives us all your wonderful messages of hope. Blessings on your day.