Simple Silence: A Place of Quiet Prayer

AN INVITATION FROM JESUS - COME PRAY IN SIMPLE SILENCE

The headlines screamed across the glaring screen — and my heart sank lower than I thought possible. I felt the weight and sadness of the world crashing down on me. How could I find any quiet rest with such chaos gripping my soul? Where was the quiet place for prayer?

As I paused for a moment, I heard a whisper, stronger than the weight, deeper than the sadness:

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31)

Are you also experiencing those anxious mind-racing thoughts that threaten to pull your heart down? Our Lord Jesus has called us to lay the weight down and find His quiet rest.

When the world is reeling under constant change and chaos, there is another voice, another way. Our Lord Jesus has called us to lay down the loud shouting and find His quiet rest.

He is the true rest our souls crave.

PAUSE IN OUR RUSHING

He calls us to slow down in the rush, to listen to our breathing, and to center our thoughts on Him. We don’t have to wait for the noise in our minds to stop. No, we can pause in the midst of the shouting and lift our thoughts to Jesus: Jesus, my Savior, have mercy on me. Quietly, one syllable at a time, He gently invites us to focus our hearts on Him.

What if we wander back into the worries and anxieties—what then? He invites us again, and again, and again. This Spiritual discipline of quiet prayer goes by different names: Centering Prayer, Silent Prayer, and Breath Prayer. Each practice invites us to center our thoughts and our hearts on Jesus. He will meet us in that place of quiet rest and simple silence.

SIMPLE SILENCE: A PLACE OF PRAYER

Scattered throughout God’s Word are countless ways His people have found themselves bowing in prayer. We invite you to pause and explore prayer as the Lord leads you. Let His Holy Spirit be the guide who calls you. If you listen, you will hear His words, “Come away with me to a quiet place and get some rest.” He will be our quiet place for prayer when the world is filled with chaos.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for coming into our world and for facing the same loud, anxious rush we experience in our own minds. What a precious Shepherd You are to us, leading us into the same place of quiet prayer that You set before Your disciples! Will You help us still our thoughts? Even in these heavy days as our world rocks, we trust that You are King over all. We want to hear Your voice and rest in Your words over us. We lift our hearts to You now and magnify Your great name, our precious Savior and Lord. In Your name, we pray, amen.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What kinds of loud noises fill your mind right now?
• Which prayer of stillness will you pause with today: Breath Prayer, Pray Continually, Holy Attention?
• As you pause, we invite you to request prayer.