Soul Quiet

 

My soul quietly waits for the True God alone; my salvation comes from Him.  Psalm 62.1 

I confess, I am rarely quiet.  It is go, go, go.  Do, do, do.  And at the end of the day, it’s difficult to turn off my brain and rest.  I find it easy to take refuge in all I’ve accomplished and ignore the unsettled, restless feelings in my heart.  Focusing on the doing, rather than the being. 

Someone once told me, we aren’t human-doings, we’re human-beings.    

How true this is and yet how uncomfortable we find “being” to be. 

When am I ever “soul quiet”?  

We’re fixers . . .    

We don't need a Savior because we are our own savior.  We need money, we take out a loan.  We no longer feel in love with our spouse so we dump them for a newer model.  Our child is struggling with a teacher, we move them to a different class.  Our in-laws are driving us crazy, we cut them out of the picture.  We read self-help books, see counselor after counselor, and take matters into our own hands.  

Waiting is for those who are lazy.  Waiting wastes time.  Waiting never solves anything. 

We don’t need a Rescuer because we are our own rescuer. 

It’s easy to rationalize away this call for soul quiet waiting. 

Soul quiet is hard.  Soul quiet takes precious time.  Soul quiet takes perseverance and intentionality. 

 

Soul quiet causes us to let go of the list and focus on the being.  Soul quiet forces us to be still.  Soul quiet brings us face to face with who we are deep down inside. 

We will never pursue this life accidentally.  The voices of this world shout loud and long and unless we choose to remove our self from their continual barrage we will never learn to listen to the whispers of our Savior.   

Years ago I learned a soul quiet practice called “Contemplative Prayer”, also known as Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading).  I have found it to be a wonderful way of helping me learn to quiet my soul and wait on God.

Here’s how it works:

*Read aloud the passage of Scripture (should be only 2-3 verses).  Listen to the words and be still for 1-2 minutes. 

*Read aloud again and Reflect for another 1-2 minutes:  What in this passage touches my life today? 

 

*Read aloud again and Respond for another 1-2 minutes:  What is God inviting me to do

today?

 

*Read aloud again and Rest for another 1-2 minutes:  Ask nothing, simply rest in the presence

of the Lord.

*Write down what God has spoken to you through His Word. 

I encourage you today to take Philippians 4.6-7 and begin your soul quiet practice.

God is calling all of us to the soul quiet way of living.  Resting in His presence.  Waiting on Him to rescue us.  Quieting our hearts before Him.   

 

It’s the way of Peace even when our worlds are turned upside down.  It’s the way of Joy even when there is tremendous pain.  It is the path of Life for those who choose to walk its way.