Listening in Silence by Rocky Fleming

Listening in Silence

by

Rocky Fleming

“Listen to Me in silence…”  Isaiah 41:1(a) NASB

    “Father,” I prayed. “Show me from scripture what You want to say to me this morning.” It was a simple request.  I didn’t mince words or beat around the bush looking for something needed to support a decision or to supply a known need.  I didn’t really know what I wanted.  I only wanted to be at the throne of God and have Him speak to me something, … something profound.  Man did He. I had been journaling the previous day on Isaiah 40:31 concerning the admonition to wait on the Lord.  It told me that my strength would be renewed if I waited, and I indeed needed my strength to be renewed.  Waiting was instructional to me.  It was clear.  But what was not completely clear is what waiting on the Lord looks like.  I asked for clarity, and the answer would come the next day when I asked my question to the Lord with what he wanted to say to me. When I turned to my bible to look for what God may want to say to me personally, I read the very next verse after 40:31. Like a flashing neon sign I read, “Listen to Me in silence.”  I knew immediately the Lord was speaking to me and telling me what I needed to do.  I did as He instructed.  I closed my bible and journal.  I closed my eyes and tried to shut off all outside noise.  But the distracting thoughts were not as easy as the other noises to deal with.  They would require a battle. As I processed this battle scene of invasive thoughts, I was instructed by another verse I have used in past times about the nature of my spiritual warfare and how I am to stand against the distracting thoughts coming at me.  Let me share it: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ESV) “Take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  I had been instructed to listen to God in silence.  However as long as the distracting thoughts were accepted by me, I could not find the silence needed.  I knew that my battle must be waged first against the “distractors,” to find the silence I needed.  How did I do it?  I refused to listen to them.  I turned a deaf ear.  Instead, I concentrated on quieting every aspect of my body, mind and soul so that I could listen for God’s voice.  Little by little the distractors fell away and what was left was a still, small voice whispering words of affirmation and love.  It was a whisper.  But it was clear.  Every word passed through years of bible study and journaling to be screened.  Without a doubt I heard God, for His voice sounds so much like the holy scriptures I’m familiar with. Once the connection was made a feeling of rest and peace fell over me.  I was doing everything I could do to remain quietened within.  Then I heard Him say, “What do you want from Me?” I know God knows my every thought, so it was not about knowledge that God was seeking.  Rather it was about me clearly stating a request.  It was verbalizing clearly my request of Him, and I knew I must. Now I know that you might want me to give you some details of my request and what I’ve seen come from it?  I will only say that what I asked for, and what I have been given is a series of open and closed doors that are leading to the possibility of an answer to a need.  I feel the final destination will be reached in God’s way and within God’s timetable.  I must hold on to this request by faith.  I see movement toward it, and I’m encouraged.  This alone lifts my spirit. One thing I feel God has instructed me to do is to live my life as transparent as possible.  I feel that God would have me share things such as I have today to someone out there so that this person can share in the blessing I’ve received.  The blessing is not to know my story, but to allow your own story space to grow.  It is to discover the truth how silence helps one listen to God’s voice more clearly, and once there, to be very clear with our requests to Him.  My request was to be given a series of open and closed doors that would eventually lead me to what I hoped for but was reluctant to ask for.  I didn’t know for sure that it was God’s will that my perceived need be met.  I needed Him to show me that it is His will and blessing to grant my request.  I have received both doors and the open ones are leading me on a path that I feel God is directing me toward, which will be to the desires of my heart.  We’ll see. There is so much comfort and peace in God’s voice.  Do not deny this privilege that He gives to His children.  Fight those distractors and go to Him dear ones.  He wants to talk to you, and you need to receive His comfort.