September
9: Quiet Day
Quiet Day was established to remind us to slow down and, well, be quiet! Officially established in 2000, it’s a day dedicated to pushing the pause button on everything connected with noise.
That’s a tough sell in today’s world. We don’t do quiet. Far from it—the radio in the car, the TV at home, podcasts, playlists, and meaningless conversations fill our days. How often do we consider that our deliverance, our help, the solution to whatever struggle we may be facing, is found in quiet.
Admit it—quiet can be awkward, even uncomfortable. We feel compelled to ward off such moments. That is the reason why we miss the Lord’s counsel. We are so busy making plans and projecting into the future or offering platitudes to others that we cannot hear when God speaks. Be quiet. It may well save your life.
God’s word is filled with such examples. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah strains to hear the voice of God in the storm and the earthquake and the fire, but it only comes in a quiet whisper. King Hezekiah was overwhelmed as the invading armies of Assyria besieged Jerusalem. Should he marshal the armies of Israel, or forge an alliance with Egypt? “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15) The list goes on.
Try this:
On a day devoted to celebrating quiet, take some time to do just
that. Read scripture or a devotion or
listen to a sermon. Then, stop, and
listen. What is God saying? What specific challenge are you facing today? Stop, and listen. Where is God leading? What is His Spirit prompting you to do, or
not do? More often than we realize, we
miss God’s voice not because He is silent, but because we cannot hear Him over
the din of our lives. Make quiet a
regular part of your day, not just today, but every day. You will be surprised at what you hear.
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