
After waking yesterday morning, I laid still for a long time in silent, wordless worship, which was bliss. Eventually, when today’s prayer began to flow, I stirred, and gladly wrote it down.
This is how I was shown a simple spiritual practice I had never grasped before: an effective way of consciously living in God’s presence all the time. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus was talking about when he said: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).
Jesus also said: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one” (Luke 10:41-2; NIV). Perhaps constant silent worship is all that is needed, with everything else springing from this daily practice.
Anyway, here are the verses which came to me. Combined with their references, I hope they will help to explain what I experienced and learned.
When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).
Worship him continually (1 Chronicles 16:11; GNT).
Wake: adore in silent worship;
Sit and stand: do just the same;
Walk and talk in silent worship –
Inwardly, revere God’s name.
Work and play in silent worship;
Honour God, and never cease;
Rest and sleep in silent worship –
You will share His perfect peace.
Offer constant silent worship,
Giving all that love demands;
Live and pray in God’s dear Spirit –
Safe, forever, in His hands.
He will keep them safe forever (Psalm 37:28; NLT).
Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).
References
Verse 1:
*Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).
*Always pray (Luke 18:1; NIV).
*Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17; NLT).
*Praise his glorious name forever (Psalm 72:19; NLT).
*Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name (Hebrews 13:15; NLT).
Verse 2:
*Pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; BLB).
*You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him (Matthew 4:10; NLT).
*I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give (John 14:28; NLT).
*You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you (Isaiah 26:3; NLT).
*The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
Verse 3:
*The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands (Psalm 25:10; NLT).
*Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Matthew 22:37; ESV).
*Live forever with God in the Spirit (1 Peter 4:6; NLT).
*Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).
*He loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching (Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).