Be Still: The Practice of Silence and Solitude

1 Kings 19:9-13 (NKJV) And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God…for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword.  I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.”  And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.

“Rest is an elusive discipline discovered only in reckless abandonment of our own abilities.” 

1.  We are too busy

2.  We get uncomfortable

3.  It is easier to hide

Genesis 3:9-10 (NKJV) Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

4.  Afraid we will be found empty 

“Silence is frightening because it strips us as nothing else does, throwing us upon the stark realities of life.  And in that quiet, what if there turns out to be very little to ‘just us and God?’”  —Dallas Willard  

1.  God wants to be heard

John 10:27 (NASB) My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

There is a time to speak and there is a time to listen.

2.  God wants to be God

“One of the main differences between you and God is that God doesn’t think He is 

  you.”  —Peter Greig

Psalm 46:10 (NLT) Be still, and know that I am God! 

3.  God wants us to be refreshed 

Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet [still] waters, 3 He refreshes [restores] my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

4.  God wants to help us return

“A holy man cannot live in the closet, but he cannot live without it.”  

—Leonard Ravenhill