From the Rev. Deacon Larry Barnhill Reflection for 20 Sept. 2013 The good are quiet. The quiet succeed. Such am I, the quiet man. Somewhere in our upbringing as Christians, or in our being around Christians, we have heard the line from Psalm 46 in which we are told to be still so that we may know God. While we have indeed heard it, how many of us truly know what it means to be still and quiet, and in doing so how do we go about understanding how being still and quiet before the Lord impacts our walk with Christ and in our truly developing a deeper knowledge of God? Discovering this lost art of spiritual quietness is the focus of this book and as you read through it, I hope and pray that you can find your ability to find a quietness and stillness so that you can grow and truly come to know God in a deeper more personable sense. As we seek to find that quietness we are able to shift our focus from the world to that of God. Many of the problems that mankind, as a whole, encounters comes from the overwhelming noise of the world. As we seek healing for ourselves and others, as we seek to draw closer to Christ, and as we seek to a Light to the world we must take the time to find an inner quietness so that we can listen, hear, and then obey God. The ability to just sit, be quiet, and be with God is something that today’s post-modern world has forgotten, and as such the so called “industrialized Western Culture” has lost its focus and deep connection with God the Father. We are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ and to become more and more like Him each and every day. I hope with this book to help give you some tools, insights, and practical help that you can use to deepen, strengthen, and rebuild that gap which we in the West have developed in our corporate walk with God. As a result of this we have lost our focus. As I was praying over this and how I could do a teaching on it, I stumbled across this prayer by St. Augustine and felt what he reveals here are words which still apply today. As such they have become and impetuous and starting point for this work. God of my life, I give you thanks and praise that I have life, And that my life is filled with touches of your love. You have given me a heart that wants to be of service, And you have placed in me a desire to make a difference. Quiet the fears and distractions of my heart long enough For me to listen to the movement of your Spirit, To hear your gentle invitation. Reveal to me the choices that will make me know your joy. Help me to discover my identity. Let me understand how to best use the gifts You have so lovingly lavished upon me In preparation for this journey in faith. And give me the courage to continually choose you As you have chosen me. Lord, let me know myself and let me know you. In this is my greatest joy. Let us now begin the journey into finding our lost ability in the art of Spiritual Quietness and Inner Healing as we look at several pieces of Scripture and how through them God has revealed to us the how’s, where’s, and why’s to this great and lost art among today’s Christian community.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 23:45:30 +0000