When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself.
Enter into silence.
Bow in prayer.
Wait for hope to appear.
Lamentation 3:28 MSG
Richard Foster writes on the Discipline of Solitude
and the gifts that this practice offers to the searching heart:
“There is the freedom to be alone,
not in order to be away from other people
but in order to hear the divine Whisper better.” *
Further in the discussion of solitude Foster adds:
“The dark night (of the soul) is one of the ways God brings us to hush,
a stillness so that He may work an inner transformation upon the soul.” *
Settle into silence,
still enough,
to capture a universe of watery orbs spilled across a single blossom.
Such moments welcome the Holy whispers of wisdom.
*Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
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"Wait for hope", love this. I am going to have to pick up that book!
ReplyDeleteFoster's Celebration of Disciplines is a classic. I found it used, at Amazon. It taught me so much!
DeleteHad a real heart for the Word and liked the photo. I'm struggling in so many physical/mental issues at this age thing, and it's pretty much what I'm doing more and more to simply turn my heart to Him, enter more silence, do more special focusing. AND, being a "Jeremiah" person [his prophetic and family and area situations always make me feel like he's my brother forever and ever ;-)] when I read that Book it is a "grabber". Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLifting a prayer for you in this 'dark night' season; that you will be comforted by our Lord's constant presence.
DeleteI love to take walks for the exercise, but also for (and maybe more so) for the alone time. It's a time I pray, thank God for His beautiful creation and quiet myself in my spirit. I love the quotes you shared by Richard Foster. Have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteCreation purely shouts with our Lord's presence. I too walk and absorb the holiness. Thank you for visiting here!
DeleteBeautiful and deep thoughts, Lisa ...It is in the stillness, that we can hear Him ... find peace and reflect ... or just enjoy in His presence!
ReplyDelete(I will check out this book of Richard Foster).
We share that yearning for stillness and holy presence. I'm touched by your kind words.
DeleteBeautiful! And every time we wait in silence, being completely still in mind, body and spirit, He comes, He sits, He strengthens. Blessings, sweet one!
ReplyDeleteHoly Whispers of Wisdom.... oh, yes. The whispers that can only be heard in the stillness and silence. How I long for more places and spaces like that in my life. I'm grateful I stopped by and grateful that you linked with Unforced Rhythms.
ReplyDeleteHoly Whispers of Wisdom - such beauty and depth to a short phrase. Phew.
ReplyDelete