Silence

“Those who deny themselves will be sure to find their strength increased, their affections raised, and their inward peace continually augmented.” (Bishop Wilson on the Isle of Man)

Silence

“Silence is the way to make solitude a reality.” (Henri Nouwen)

Why is silence a spiritual discipline?

• Silence allows each of us the occasion to hear the voice of God in the quiet and stillness of our solitude and prayers.

Silence in the Old Testament

• God described Israel like this: “These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction.” (Isaiah 30:9)
• Later in the same chapter, God offers this instruction: “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.’” (Isaiah 30:15)
• Isaiah described the Son of God like this:

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Matthew 12:18-21 referring to Isaiah 42:1-4)

Silence in the New Testament

• “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19)
• “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)
• “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” (James 3:1-12)

“We need to pay less attention to what people are trying to tell us, and more to what they tell us without trying.” (Miguel de Unamuno)

“The more I practice this discipline, the more I appreciate the strength of silence. The less I become skeptical and judgmental, the more I learn to accept the things I didn’t like about others, the more I accept them as uniquely created in the image of God. The less I talk, the fuller are words spoken at an appropriate time. The more I value others, the more I serve them in small ways, the more I enjoy and celebrate my life. The more I celebrate, the more I realize that God has been giving me wonderful things in my life, the less I worry about my future. I will accept and enjoy what God is continuously giving to me. I think I am beginning to really enjoy God.” (Dr. Dirk Nelson as told to Dr. Dallas Willard)