Being Present
by Abby Lee
Do you have a hard time being silent?
I'm not talking about silent as in not speaking, but silent in your heart and mind.
We lead LOUD and BUSY lives. I have an almost 3-year-old right now who gets louder by the DAY! I find the precious noise of his little voice, the dance parties in the kitchen, the TV shows, the podcasts as I’m cleaning, and the music blasting in the car all beautiful in the moment. But, my heart and my soul need moments of silence.
Being silent is a practice that can be hard to actually live out, but it is essential to us as believers. Why? Because silence is where we are the most present with GOD.
Silence is where two things happen as a believer:
Silence is a mirror to your soul – it is the place where you honestly evaluate yourself.
Silence is where you listen to the Holy Spirit.
We see in 1 Kings 19 that God speaks to Elijah in a LOW whisper. The God who can speak through ANYTHING speaks in a whisper.
Do you intentionally create space to HEAR the whisper of God?
We must be women who seek God in the silent moments. Women who remain present with the Lord. Women who don’t let the news and culture dictate their emotions. We have confidence because of the time spent in the secret place.
Being present and in silence with the Lord is not a hippy concept - we aren’t supposed to be “zen” or spend all our vacations on silent retreats - haha!
Being silent with God and having a space to LISTEN to his voice should be where you are COMMISSIONED to do what God had called you to do.
Recently my brother was telling me stories about monastic communities that they would spend their mornings in silence and then go OUT to serve their community all day long. They would start with silence and let it lead to SERVICE.
Do you have a hard time being present with your family?
Do you have a hard time focusing on the right things?
I want to challenge you to get time alone with God. Silence your heart and mind. Allow God to speak to you - and let it move you to SERVICE. Serving your family, serving your friendship, serving God’s House, serving the lost and broken in our city.
It’s time to get silent so that we can be present!