Be silent or speak

Today Bill Hybels discusses a second season Solomon mentions in Ecclesiastes 3, specifically Ecclesiastes 3:7, where Solomon says there is ” a time to be silent and a time to speak.”

2.  Be silent or speak.  Due to the frenzied pace of our culture, the decibel level in our head makes it very difficult to “hear God’s quiet whispers of encouragement, guidance, or correction.”  Each of us needs a time of silence when we can give God our full attention.

At other times, we may sense God nudging us to speak us.  Pastor Hybels emphasizes that we can’t excuse ourselves from responsibility by thinking it’s not our place to say anything or want a friend to feel judged.  Our silence may create a new set of dilemmas more challenging than deciding whether or not to speak up.  Even if things don’t go well when we speak up, we still can know we did the right thing and were obedient to God’s whisper.

Bill concludes that it’s vital to simplifying your life to identify your current season:

“It equips you to be more fully present and engaged.  It brings a single-minded clarity to your days.  You are more likely to notice God’s active hand, to learn the lessons He has for you, and to maximize the character development, wisdom, and spiritual growth opportunities that each season holds.”

Today’s question:  How are you intentional in setting aside a time of silence with God?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “A reason for every season”

Be silent or speak

The battle is not yours

“Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed by this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”- 2 Chronicles 20:15

As Sara Horn continues Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, she emphasizes that when we are intentional in living each day for Jesus and praying our way through it, something powerful happens.  This is important because not every moment of life is spent on a spiritual mountaintop with God.  At some point, every Christian has to return to the reality known as life.

When that reality hits, Christ’s joy and peace and kindness don’t always flow so easily from us.  We may wonder if those virtues are present at all.  Our natural tendency is to hold on to slights and offenses for dear life- if we let go something might change, and we won’t like it!  Sara explains the necessity of giving every day of our life to God:

“If I can intentionally give Jesus my days in any given week, I can be intentional with giving him every day of my life.  I can be deliberate about giving him the relationships in my life, even the hard ones . . . especially the hard ones.”

Sara asks one significant question: “Are the battles we chose the battles God has chosen for us?”  Even so, Sara stresses that the battle we really need to focus on in the battle within ourselves.  Only through God’s power can we choose the better way.

Today’s question: What battles do need to give up to the Lord?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation for Holy Week/Easter- “We all, like sheep”

The battle is not yours