silence...

Missionary/martyr Jim Elliot once said, “I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds... Satan is quite aware of the power of silence.”



Is it possible to go through one's life without ever experiencing silence? Yes. Was this the example that Jesus set for us? No.

Luke 5:16 says that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places."

The Bible describes multiple benefits of purposeful silence, including: hearing from God (1 Kings 19:11–13), waiting patiently for the Lord to act (Lamentations 3:25–28), worshiping God (Habakkuk 2:20), knowing God better (Psalm 46:10), praying effectively (Luke 5:16)

Without silence, will we be able to hear God speak? I don't think so.

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PRECIOUSNESS OF SILENCE
“But Jesus was silent.” Mt 26:63
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The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses;
When you do not claim your rights;
When you let God defend you;
The Silence is Meekness.

The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others;
When you readily forgive without inquiring into the past;
When you do not judge, but pray in your heart;
The Silence is Mercy.

The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully;
When you do not look for human consolations;
When you do not become too anxious, but wait in patience for the seed to germinate;
The Silence is Patience.

The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.

The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act;
When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labor yourself to be understood;
because it is enough for you to know that the Lord understands you;
The Silence is Faith.

The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking “Why?”;
The Silence is Adoration.
---From the Missionaries of Charity prayer book