365 Reflections

The art of not speaking is forgotten. Today everyone has something to say even when they don't have much to say at all. If something should be re-learned it is the art of letting our tongues stop and knowing to speak less. This is a great amount of Prover 27's emphasis.  Verse 1: Don't talk about what you're going to do. Proverbs 27:1 (ESV) Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. What foolishness it is to think we can surmise our future. The best plan is the plan that expects plans to not go according to plan. So boasting about our plans do us very little good in the long run.  Verse 2: Do not talk about what you've done.  Proverbs 27:2 (ESV) Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. This wisdom is in severely short supply. Our resumes are padded, our social media pages staged and our certificates hang on the wall to let people know that we matter. Our lives are not boring and dull.  The best k...

How often I want to tell God what to do. Do you ever feel the same? As in, "God, do this. That's a great idea. If you could just see it my way." David didn't do that. He was facing his enemy's taunts and he left the details up to God. Psalm 62:1 (ESV)  For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:5 (ESV)   For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He waited on God to do what God would do. He waited in silence. That's hard. Because we are given to blame and complain. I know I do.  David's soul was quiet and at rest before the Lord. He was confident God's answer was the right answer. He didn't trust his spear and army. He trusted the Lord's timing and activity. God is faithful. God is a refuse. God is a rock.  Psalm 62:7 (ESV)  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Do we realize how often our prayers or one-way non-stop conversations with a God who is worthy of our awe and reverence? Revelation 8:1 (ESV) When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. I like this moment. The great tribulation has happened and the saints have been brought home and clothed in white. Now the terrible judgment of God on the world is about to happen. But this moment is not flippant or celebratory. It is awe-filled and serious. God never judges off hand or "just because." His judgements are true, right, and holy. And we must stand before Him in awe and wonder. There are many places in the Bible where silence was commended. Ecclesiastes 5:1–2 (ESV) Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for...