Psalm 46:10a – Be still, and know that I am God. (KJV)

This beautiful verse was written in calligraphy and appeared in a frame on the wall of an old Anglican church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For several years, I played the organ for Sunday evening services at that church. It was a small group, and an attitude of peace prevailed, except when the vibrations from the organ pipes disturbed one of the bats that made the church its home. The service made room for silent prayer, and I always left feeling closer to God than when I had arrived.

How hard it is to be still these days! We try to schedule every waking moment, and when we get a break, we use it to check our emails. But silence and stillness are important. The following passage tells how the Lord spoke to the prophet Elijah.

1 Kings 19:11b-12 – And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (KJV)

It was with this still, small voice that the Lord spoke to Elijah and speaks to us today. So let's take time every day to turn off our electronic devices and our television sets and spend time listening for the voice of the Lord. Let us pray as did John Greenleaf Whittier in his beautiful hymn:

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm.

Prayer: Dear Lord and Father of us all, thank You for gifts of silence, stillness, and peace. Speak to us when we come before You, and help us to draw ever closer to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Richard Frith <richard111@hotmail.com>
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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