“Walk the Walk”
by Jolan
Someone told me a long time ago, Jolan if you can't be silent then you can't hear God.
Psalm 46:10
10"Be silent, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."
How many people do you know who find quiet uncomfortable?? I used to be like that, I just couldn't shut my mouth. But yesterday for instance, I was driving in the car having a chat with our Father when all of a sudden these words stirred in my mind. So I was silent, and I felt the presence of my Father so strongly, I became choked up.
Sometimes we just have to quit talking, quit thinking and let God fill our spirits with his greatness.
Now, this actual verse was not a call for silent worship, as many would think.
46:10 Be still: This is not a call for "silent" worship. V. 10 is the voice of God addressing the wicked warring nations with a warning. In other words, "Cease and desist; it is I, God, who will be exalted in victory; you do not have a chance of winning." – spirit filled life study Bible
How comforting and true is this??
Do we not know how the story ends?? Of course we do..God wins..
As a Christian we know our Father is above ALL. He was here before anything and everything, can you even imagine??? If I think about that long enough I just draw a blank. WOW! How awesome is our Father????? PRETTY AWESOME.
Silence is a virture:
Proverbs 21:23
If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble.
Proverbs 17:28
Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
Even Jesus kept His mouth shut! Now ask yourself why. Why did he do that?
Instead of yelling or cursing he prayed for his tormentors, he prayed for you.
His silence spoke more than any word ever spoken.
John 8:6 ...Is. 53:7
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.
Matthew 26:62
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Matthew 26:63
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
Matthew 27:14
But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's great surprise.
Luke 23:9
He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer.
Sometimes when we say nothing but speak with our actions, that is all that ever need be said.
1 Peter 2:15
It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you.
Now Jolan, that's hard to do. Being quiet isn't easy. I have so much to say. Yes, sometimes I feel the same way. But in the car today as my family was driving home from church we were listening to the bible channel and the woman said:
"For a long time when I spoke to people about God I thought how hardheaded they were for not listening to me until one day I realized that it was me who was hard headed. Gods love is gentle and full of grace."
Sometimes it is better to be silent. Often I pray, Father should I say something or bite my tongue. Usually silence is the best answer. Even the tone of voice is a big thing. Words are misconstrued or taken out of context. Ask yourself, would I say this if Jesus was standing right next to me?? Would I say this to Jesus himself? I have some news for you. God is everywhere. If you say it, you are saying it to God himself.
Proverbs 25:15
Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can crush strong opposition.
Ecclesiastes 3:7 ...
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.
Even the Bible speaks of the damage your tongue can do. Did you know that for every negative thing you say to someone, it takes like 7-10 positive comments to overcome that 1?
James 3:5
So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.
James 3:6-8
And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
Psalm 39:1
I said to myself, "I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will curb my tongue
when the ungodly are around me."
Curb your tongue around anyone. Do not give anyone cause to think negatively of you. Remember silence speaks volumes. SO if you aren't walking the walk but you are talking the talk what does that make you???
Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are still filthy—full of greed and wickedness!
Unfortunately I fall into this category sometimes. I wish I was perfect but I'm not. Thank God for loving a sinner like me. Because with out His love I am nothing. I feel like a nothing even with His love sometimes, because I feel so unworthy. Sometimes when I talk about my past I have a tendency to laugh. To some it may seem as if I am reliving the glory days but on the contrary, I laugh because I am so ashamed. How could God love someone like me?? I don't understand it, but I feel that love wrap around me like a warm blanket. It envelops me and I long for it.
God knows our innermost thoughts, we are always on display. I take comfort in the fact that no matter what I do, God will forgive me. His love is perfect like that. Remember just because you go to church, and wear a cross and wear a WWJD bracelet, that doesn't guarantee you a spot in heaven. There is only one way to heaven and that's accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Does your life tell people, I am a Christian? If it doesn't, remember the cup may look clean on the outside, but if it has mold on the inside would you drink out of it??? God sees the inside.
Be still, be silent and listen to our Father. Let Him move in you.
Chronicles 16:27
Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and beauty are in his dwelling.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
whose thoughts are fixed on you!