Tag Archives: Quiet

Peace and Quiet

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I’m someone that likes noise. Always have, always will. I like background noise. I like having the TV on. I like having Spotify or Google Music up in the background when I’m at church. I go to sleep each night listening to podcasts or to the news.

I like noise. Always have, always will.

Silence makes me nervous. I don’t always know what do do, or probably more important, what to say. I like the noise.

But, there are times, really deep times, really important times, when words fail. When there isn’t anything that you need to say, there isn’t anything that you need to do.

You just need to sit there, in silence, and know that you are in God’s presence, that you are loved, you are valued, and that you matter. Listen to what it says today in Zephaniah 3: 16-17:

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

peace-and-quiet_-(3)It says here that God will quiet us with His love.  There is nothing more to say. There is nothing more to do.  You are loved.  You are.  You are valued.  You are.

The Lord is mighty to save.  He is strong to save.  He loves you.  The sovereign God of heaven, who can do all things, will sing over you.

As parents stands over, sings over, prays over their child, our loving God sings over us.  He quiets us.  He loves us.

In Him, we can have peace.  And we can have quiet.  Because of His great love.

Today, if just for this moment, sit where you are.  And know this.  No matter where you, what you are doing, what you may do, you are loved.  You are.

Let that sink in.  Let it become real.  You are loved.

You can have peace.  You can have quiet.  Because of Him.

Know that.  Today.  And each day.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones, and you thought our app, you can now watch our worship services from Asbury too!

Quiet

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I don’t like being quiet. It’s not in my skill set, not is it my spiritual gift. I’m a big fan of talking and running my mouth.

I don’t know if I’m any good at it, but I sure do enjoy doing it.

So, the notion of being quiet is not something that I look forward to or enjoy. For me, it seems more like a punishment than a reward.

But listen to what the text says today in Zephaniah 3:16-17:

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

It says that the Lord is a mighty one who will save. That He will rejoice over us with gladness.

And He will quiet us with His love.

Sometimes in life, we do a lot of kicking. A lot of screaming (literally or metaphorically). We can get really, really, really worked up sometimes.

Listen to this. God will quiet you with His love. It’s ok. It’s alright.

No matter what you are facing. No matter what you are going through. No matter what is happening.

God loves you. He is here for you. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. He will quiet you with His love.

You are loved today. Breathe that in. Understand it. It’s going to be ok, no matter what you are facing. God will not leave you.

He will quiet you with His love.

Today, in this day, may we rest in His love. May we know that love, that mercy. That grace. May we rest in His love today.

And may we know the peace that comes from resting quietly in His grace.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Be Still

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I’m not a person that sits still well.  It’s not something I like or something that I do well in any way.  I sit still behind my desk too long, I’ve got to get up and move around.  I just don’t have the wiring to sit around and do nothing.

And, that’s how it feel sometimes when I’m not active.  I’m just doing . . . . well, nothing.

And then, I read a passage like I did this morning in Psalm 37

7 Be still before the Lord *
and wait patiently for him.
8 Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, *
the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
9 Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; *
do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.

The Psalmist reminds us something important that I don’t like to do – be still before the Lord.  Wait upon Him.  Still your heart before Him.

Why?  Why is this important?  Why do we need to do this?

We get so busy. We have so much going on each day.  So many concerns, so many worries, so many things that seem to be so important for us to do.

We can lose perspective. We can forget what is really important.

What is really the most important thing today?  Another task? Having a right heart with God?

That is why we need to be still.  Breathe.  Listen.  The world pushes us towards busyness and activity.

God says – slow down. Listen for me.  Listen for my voice.  Seek me while I may be found.

You don’t have to quit your job today.  You don’t have to abandon your family.  You don’t have to stop doing what you are assigned to.

But, take a moment today.  And just listen. Still yourself.  Listen. Slow yourself.  Listen.  God longs to commune with you.

No matter what you have going on, take a moment today to be still before Him.  Perhaps on commute to work.  Over lunch.  In your office.  In the garden. Wherever.  Listen.

He wants to speak.  If we will just quiet ourselves and pay attention.  We will hear.