Psalm 62:1 – For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation.

During World War 2 in Germany, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was teaching students for the ministry of the Confessing Church. This Church was formed at the Synod of Barmen in 1934 at the very time when Adolf Hitler was taking over as a ruthless dictator. It was formed deliberately to oppose Hitler's purposes and to take an unyielding stand for the Gospel, in contrast to the National Church, which was too easily co-operating with the Nazi regime.

Events moved quickly. Pressure to conform mounted, and both the students and faculty of the Confessing Church had to learn how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Bonhoeffer's students were asking two questions: "How can I learn to pray?" and "How can I learn to read the Bible?" In response Bonhoeffer developed a method of combining prayer and Scripture, silence and time. It was to this most rewarding experience of silent meditation and praying with Scripture that God and Bonhoeffer introduced me. For a long time the words from today's text have thrilled my soul: For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation. They have drawn me to the true source of that salvation.

Over, the next few days I want to offer some devotionals that will share the spiritual riches I have received so freely from silent meditation and praying with Scripture.

Prayer: O Lord our God, your Word and Spirit quicken our innermost being with your powerful but often gentle voice. In the wonder of your ways we believe that your Son Jesus gets the message from you and then your Holy Spirit makes it alive and real to us. The words of Scripture enter our hearts and actually lead us to meet you, our risen Lord. In this is our strength and sure salvation. We are looking for you, Lord. We want to meet you. In your great mercy let it happen. Amen.

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