Category: silence

Adoration

Ruth Kirk

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT). 

Lord,

May I spend time with you
In humble adoration.

No intercessions; no appeals:
Just silent contemplation.

No sad confessions; no despair:
Just wordless bliss and praise –

Lost in you, and lost in love:
One spirit, Lord, ablaze.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT). 

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-9; NIV).

References 

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2; NLT). 

The bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed (Exodus 3:2; NKJV). 

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

Prayers by rote

Ruth Kirk

People draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote (Isaiah 29:13; NASB95).

Let’s not repeat our prayers by rote,
But speak as the heart desires.

May all our words be unadorned,
For this is what God requires.

Let’s talk with him spontaneously,
Just telling the truth, in love.

Then, may our souls be hushed and still:
One with the Father, above.

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

References

When you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him (Matthew 6:7-8; NASB).

Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9; RSV).

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT). 

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world (Psalm 46:10; NLT).

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT). 

Our stillness

Ruth Kirk
Rosie Beers.

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Our stillness
Is God’s much-loved
Resting-place.

Our silence
Is the temple
Of His grace.

Our darkness
Is the birthplace
Of His light.

Our loneliness:
The image
Of His face.

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
“This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired” (Psalm 132:14; NLT).

Verse 2:
The LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Verse 3:
Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:2-3; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

Verse4:
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16; NIV).
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2; AMP).

Hidden

Ruth Kirk

He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light (Daniel 2:22; NLT). 

What lies hidden in my silence?
What lies hidden in my stillness?
What lies hidden in my darkness?
My aloneness, too?

You are hidden in my silence. 
You are hidden in my stillness.
You are hidden in my darkness.
Here, alone, Lord, I find you.

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13; CSB).

Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior! (Isaiah 45:15; ESV).

References

Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD (Isaiah 45:3; NLT). 

When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen (Matthew 6:6; NIV).

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Luke 11:9; NLT).

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NIV). 

In silence, Lord, I share with you
Exactly how my body feels.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because you live within.

In darkness, Lord, I share with you
The thoughts which surface in my mind.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because you know them all.

In stillness, Lord, I share with you
The passions moving in my heart.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because you sense them, too.

In solitude, I share with you
My soul, my life, and all I am.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because I dwell in you.

All who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT). 

References 

Verse 1:
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 138:4; NIV).

Verse 2:
Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NIV).
You know my thoughts (Psalm 139:2; NLT). 

Verse 3:
Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).
You know my heart (Jeremiah 12:3; NLT). 

Verse 4:
He climbed the hill to pray in solitude (Matthew 14:23; WEY).
When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).
You know the troubles of my soul (Psalm 31:7; CSB).
God now knows me completely (1 Corinthians 13:12; NLT).
All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God (1 John 4:15; NLT).

Waves of darkness

Ruth Kirk

I will bless the LORD who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
(Psalm 16:7; NLT).

Waves of darkness
And of light
Guide us deeper
Into love.

Waves of tenderness
And joy
Draw us closer:
God is good.

Waves of mercy
And of strength:
These, in silent prayer,
Increase.

Waves of unity
And bliss:
Always here –
The Lord is peace.

The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

References 

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NIV). 

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

Yahweh is mercy and tenderness (Psalm 111:4; NJB).

How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! (Psalm 116:5; NLT). 

The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT). 

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT). 

Thou makest me to know the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, in Thy right hand bliss for evermore (Psalm 16:11; JPS Tanakh 1917). 

Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! (Genesis 28:16; NLT). 

5.2.24: Speech or silence?

Ruth Kirk
Mountain presence: Ruth Kirk.

You must worship the LORD your God.
(Matthew 4:10; NLT). 

Today, shall I worship you
With speech, or silence?

What should I say, Lord?
What can mere words express?

How do I pledge my love,
And my reliance?

Wordless prayer is the richest,
And the best.

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity.
(Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

References 

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2; KJV). 

Worship him and cling to him (Deuteronomy 10:20; NLT). 

In God have I put my trust and confident reliance (Psalm 56:11; AMP).

30.1.24: Paradoxes

Ruth Kirk
Resurrection: Ruth Kirk.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

He lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him (1 Timothy 6:16; NLT). 

God is in darkness,
And also in light.
God is in weakness,
And also in might.

God is in sorrow,
And also in cheer.
God is in triumph,
And also in fear.

God is in silence,
And also in sound.
God is within us,
And also around.

God is in stillness,
And also in flow.
God is in neighbour,
And also in foe.

God is in giver,
And also in thief.
God is in gladness,
And also in grief.

God is in birth, and in life,
And in breath.
God is in terror, and anguish,
And death.

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34; NKJV).

When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46; NKJV).

Reference

There is…one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything (Ephesians 4:5-6; GWT).

11.1.24: Worship

Ruth Kirk
Worship: Ruth Kirk.

Worship the LORD your God (Luke 4:8; NLT). 

Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD (Zephaniah 1:7; NLT). 

Worship in silence,
Worship in stillness;
Worship in darkness,
And worship alone.

Yahweh will hear you,
Draw near, and meet you;
Yahweh will kiss you,
And welcome you home.

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

5.1.24: God’s voice

Ruth Kirk

Here I am, Lord (Acts 9:10; NKJV). 

When you hear
God’s voice within,
Just whisper:
Here I am, Lord. 

Open up your mind
And heart;
Fall silent;
Simply wait.

No matter what you’re doing,
Pause,
And come into
His presence.

Then, be still,
And listen hard –
For God
Is very great.

O LORD my God, you are very great! (Psalm 104:1; ESV).

References 

After the fire came a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12; BSB).

Come into his presence (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

He is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! (Psalm 95:7; NLT).