FIND YOUR SILENCE
This is the key to my writing today. That is, I am aware that the world we live in is more demanding than any other age of human existence. We are all hands-on deck: running here, fixing that and working there. That is the only way we can make ends meet. However, in all those activities, I beg you of this: don’t forget to find time to be alone. I mean, make time away from the noise and the distractions and find a place where you will just have a moment of silence with yourself.
The big question I want to answer with regard to this is – why? I mean, what is the significance of “being alone”, isn’t that what bored, suicidal losers do, just an hour before they end their lives? God forbid! I would like to submit to you that there is nothing as important to your spiritual wellbeing as finding that moment of still solitude. Here is why…
To have time with God
As we see with the above-cited text, Jesus’s primary mission was to pray to the Father. I find that interesting considering the fact that our Lord, being God Almighty, needed no sin to confess. He certainly was not lacking in knowledge and He definitely was not worried of what happens where. If anything, He had the fullness of the Spirit in Him. His life was the definition of perfection and well-being. Yet, He still made time to pray.
In contrast, you have trouble with sin, trouble with physical weakness, trouble with other people’s problems, trouble with your past, your present and even your future is a constant dread. If anything, you need God far more than you realise. Therefore, you need more time in prayer. It is critical that you make that time – alone with your Saviour! To cast all your cares upon Him.
In addition, you need a place of silence so you can have time in the Word; Scripture. Have you noticed that your schedule is already packed-full with work, movement, chat messages, emails, music, TV programs, Social Media and the Lord knows what else? According to some study (I don’t know how true), the average person actually checks their phone almost every 30 seconds. It is safe to say that most of our “busyness” is actually confined to our smartphones. We are addicted, and like every addict, we seek hits throughout the day. When then do you think you will have enough time to study God's word? That is, unless you force yourself through a dedicated time and place for silence.
Finally, a time and a place of solitude gives you the privilege of practising the very thing that has been forgotten among us: Christian meditation. That is when a child of heaven thinks about the goodness of the Lord; who He is and what He has done in one’s life. It enables a believer to ponder on God's Word and its beautiful promises. This can also be done through a calm gazing at God's wonder of creation; to behold the stars in their brightness. To soak up the warm morning sunshine. To enjoy the soothing melody of singing birds. To savour the sweet aroma of the spring flowers. All these things can go a long way in reminding a Christian man that there is a God in heaven and He is good. Tell me then, is there anything anymore therapeutic to the believing soul as this? However, you will miss all that unless you find that moment of quietness.
To do self-introspection
Again, I believe a large portion of our spiritual problems stem from a lack of self-examination. When a believer sits down with themselves and assesses their Christian life. To check, “Am I growing or not? Am I in the will of God or not? What are the areas to improve and what are the sins to confess? All that can only be done at a particular place and time, especially dedicated for that.
To make critical life decisions
I once wrote about the rise of comedians in our society. Which – as well meaning as they are – have unfortunately preoccupied us away from the ability to think. To sit quietly in a room and ponder about the serious issues of life. Therefore, my dear friend, whether you realise it or not, you need proper time and a silent place to think clearly about the direction of your life. To relieve the moments of your life to this day; to be thankful for this and to praise God for that. And to do proper planning about where you are going in terms of your physical wellbeing, your economic goals and your spiritual good. That is what it means to be a leader of your own life.
One Christian brother says, “Satan never had to fight me; he just kept me busy. And that's it. That's the whole strategy. He doesn't need to destroy your life. He just needs to keep you distracted enough that prayer gets pushed to later, the Bible stays closed, and God is always the later thing on the list. And that later never comes. I used to think that spiritual warfare looked like something dramatic, until I learned that it's not always that dramatic. Sometimes it's just your schedule – one more episode to watch, one more scroll on the Social Media handle, one more thing that isn't God. Simple but subtle. The enemy doesn't need your soul if he already has your attention. That is the trap I had to see before I could get out of it. Distraction isn't neutral. Every minute pulled away from God is a minute pointed somewhere else, and somewhere else has a name...He's not waiting for you to do something big and wrong, but he is waiting for you to do nothing. Just stay distracted.”
I must add that sometimes the thing that keeps us away from communion with God are good things – godly things. Example: ministry activities. There are enough things to do in the name of serving in the church, preaching invites, helping that person and doing that for those people; until you have no time for your own soul refreshment. Be aware of that as well. I also believe that this problem can come from our prideful desire to get attention from others. You want to run here, there, and accomplish that, so that in the end, the crowd will clap for you until you are trending on Facebook. No! Make God your goal and you won’t need to impress anyone with your activities. More importantly, so that you will have time for Him in the secret place.
My writing is towards the end. I hope you will read it and resolve to guard your time zealously from now on. No amount of busyness kept our Lord away from His place of quiet, sweet communion with His Father. You do well to learn from Him and find your own place and time of silence. Start today.
Sinothi Ncube
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