Sue O’Donnell. 28.11.20
What happens in the silence of prayer?
Individual, solitary, personal prayer that is.
Do we not catch the whisper of our Father
Seeking us, speaking with us in Jesus?
Is Jesus the Messiah, not the living hope
The pure gift of our Father in heaven?
The Lord God also sends us His Spirit.
Is the Holy Spirit not our Adviser, our Counsellor?
We need rapt attention to listen and learn.
We have to yearn for the presence of the Trinity.
We must, must sit silently, awaiting them.
The Trinity may come collectively as we pray,
Or they may come as their own Person, individually.
What stirrings do we feel in our heart,
Or in our mind, in our will, or on our conscience?
What memory does the silence invoke?
Perhaps something long forgotten that requires
The fresh light of God’s love to shine upon it.
What have we learned recently as godly teaching?
Have we actually put this into practice?
How far have we progressed in our determination
The declaration that we will serve Christ Jesus?
Is it noticeable to others that we have spent time with Jesus?
What is this moment’s silence adding to our reverence?
Is repentance required for any disobedience?
Is heaven within realistic reach because Jesus does teach us?
Are we fully open to His anointing Spirit, ever seeking our holiness?
What a great deal we have to think about!
Let then the silence of prayer be sought daily.
Be brought about by determination, careful organisation.
A moment’s quick passing thought of the Lord Jesus
Is never, ever enough, being entirely insufficient.
Let us then, turn to, pray through the sacred Scriptures,
Or any other Christian teaching motivating us,
To question, think, ponder, wonder and ask,
For our task is to make good progress in holiness,
By spending quality time with the Lord Jesus,
Looking at life together, for He is our Saviour.
In the morning we could well be asking:
‘What do You want me to do today for You, Lord?’
If later on, we may well say ‘What next?’
Then when we reach a time for evening silence,
For reflection upon the day, and the way it was spent,
Then of course, we have recourse to reflect back.
In the Lord’s company we lack no good thing for blessing life.
Did we use time wisely, generously, Spirit led carefully?
Or did we squander time and effort carelessly,
Or fritter away godly opportunity thoughtlessly unaware?
Did we pray sufficiently, not simply early on?
What are our plans to do better in the future?
If we are to maintain an attitude appropriate to Christianity,
Then we have to enter the silence of prayer frequently,
Setting aside time to focus on the Almighty Trinity.
We cannot do this when there is the usual noisy surroundings.
We need silence for real reverence!
Let us then, stop, be still and draw within completely,
Seeking the Holy Spirit who takes up residence within us,
So as to help us ever focus on the Lord Jesus,
That we may as we pray, resolve how, where and when
We are to love, honour and obey our heavenly Father.
And as this is to be continuous, not a day of service missed,
Surely then, we need to set aside ample time to pray,
To sit in the silence and wait for the Lord to address us.
If we are sufficiently still, He will!
May our reflection ever be a most blessed connection.
Being fully open to the Holy Spirit, means being ready
At all times to act as He says, to live reverently.
For we never know what He will ask of us currently.
It is no good claiming time is needed to prepare.
God is ever with us in the Lord Jesus’ presence
Our Saviour Brother is always with us,
And He continuously offers us His Spirit of holiness.
It is up to us to pray and make good progress
In living as in obedience, servant hearted.
Having started, we must continue regularly, daily.
The silence of prayer is where we stand on the starting line,
Where we cross the threshold, moving from worldliness
To our love’s focus being on serving the Lord Jesus.
Then the silence of prayer in an evening is the finalising point,
Where reflection and introspection should lead
To adoration of the life enhancing Trinity,
With all amazed praise and heartfelt thanksgiving,
Expressed for the glory we have seen during the day.
Pray, pray, pray and put into practice all you learn
As you spurn all that is worthless, looking instead at the Lord Jesus,
Earnestly attempting to live the way He did,
So as to love, honour and please our Father,
Expressing gratitude for any progress, remorse for mistakes,
And resolve to make better progress the next day.
For our Lord is the God of steadfast loving kindness,
Who wants nothing but the best from life for us.
That is why it is essential to regularly enter
The silence of prayer to share everything.
Anything any one Person of the Holy Trinity
Brings to mind, will, heart, conscience or your notice.
Then together with the Lord Jesus as our Saviour,
We can, prompted by the Spirit, work out together
The better way to live so as to give glory to God.
Lord God, I thank You that recently I read a teaching entitled “Evening Reflections”, which I felt was Spirit given as an invaluable prompt for reflective introspection:
“What have I sacrificed? What have I done?
What have I lost? And what have I won?
What have I given and what have I got?
How have I helped, just a bit or a lot?
Have I kept back what I might have bestowed?
Have I made easier somebody’s load?
Have I been honest at work and at play?
What kind of show have I put up today?”
(“Thoughts for Every day” Patience Strong)
This list provides a succinct and easy way to review the day. Thank You for Your helpful guidance. May time spent in prayer ever increase our seeking to live fully reverently, by adhering to the Lord Jesus as fully as
possible, whilst always listening out for and responding to the Holy Spirit. As silence, personal prayer and the development of our reverence are so closely linked, please keep us praying in full concentration of our heart and mind. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
PRAYER
QUIET
