The Sound of Silence

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

There are 2 types of silence that are necessary in our Christian walks:  1. The silence (absence) of noise so that we can hear the Holy Spirit's voice; 2. The silence (absence) of anything that may come out of our mouths that does not produce edification of another.

1. The Silence of Noise:  Can you effectively listen while talking at the same time?  You may think you can, but you are definitely missing out on important information if your full attention is not devoted to the speaker.  Our faith is strengthened when we are still.  "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).  Be still so that you can know God (Psalm 46:10).  We make sacrifices and compromises every day when we are in relationship with people; we must apply the same formula to our relationship with God.  In Proverbs 9:13, we learn that, "The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge."  With silence, comes the voice of the Holy Spirit.  If we are still, we can learn discipline and wisdom, through the Holy Spirit's impartment.  These two qualities are vitally important in the character of a Christian.  Finally, get rid of the noise!  Fast from anything that is keeping you from spending time with God.  Be careful NOT to create your own noise.  "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him" (Proverbs 28:9).

 

2. The Silence of the Tongue:  We've all heard the saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."  This is actually a biblical principle!  From the overflow of our hearts, our mouths speak (Luke 6:45)!  This is another reason we need to be STILL.  Being still promotes faith, discernment and purification!  When we are pure, our hearts are pure, which means our words are pure!  Be careful what you say, because "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21). Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be."  Our words carry tremendous power, and with anointing, can bring healing and peace.  However, without the blessing of the Lord, our words can bring death and chaos.  Certainly, death and chaos (the absence of peace) are not of God.  As Christians, we should aim to fulfill the command of 2 Timothy 2:16-17, which says the following:  "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene."  As believers in Christ, let us edify one another and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.   

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!


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