Each morning as I awaken at 5 a.m., I know exactly what the morning holds
for me - QUIET! I love quietness so much that I willingly get up at that
hour to bask in it, for it is of great price to me. There isn't another
part of the day that holds quite the same therapeutic quietness as the
early morning. It elicits a calm and comfort in my soul that carries me
through all the moments of my busy day. Yes, our spirits can hold quietness
- if we would let it be so...
1 Peter 3:4
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of
God of great price.
Ladies, God places high value upon quietness and a quiet spirit. He is
a tranquil Being... What do you think the atmosphere of Heaven is like?
Noisy, hectic, and fast-paced like it is here on earth?? Would you say
you are a tranquil being? What is the atmosphere of your home? Because
God values a quiet spirit, then we know for a fact that the devil will
set up an attack on quietness. It is only when we spend consistent quiet
time alone with our God that we can emulate the serenity of His heart
and home... Perhaps you don't value quietness as highly as God does. There
are actually many people who go to great lengths to avoid the quiet altogether!
Yet tranquility is something we are scripturally exhorted to seek after...
Psalm 131:2
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of
his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
Have you considered the fact that you need to put yourself in a position
of quietness for the purpose of learning how to behave? You can't be the
woman you should be without times of quiet before God, for it is an essential
part to our growing in the Lord! Take responsibility for settling yourself
down at the Throne of God and allow His Spirit to speak to you of your
childlike behavior. Let God wean you of your desire for milk and put you
on the meat of His Word, maturing you in grace and knowledge of Him. Is
your soul even as a weaned child today, dear lady? It is through times
of quietness that you detach yourself from the affections of this world
and wean your heart from worldly enjoyments to fill your soul with Heaven's
tranquility.
Philip. 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ...
What perfect expression of a weaned soul! Can you honestly say you could
join the apostle Paul in saying these very words from your heart? Are
you willing to go without everything in this world or do you have to have
your own way most of the time? Paul suffered the loss of all things willingly
because he had weaned himself of this world and it's affections. He quieted
himself and was thus able to properly behave himself as a child of God.
When lusts and affections tried to rise up within him, as they will with
all of us, Paul disciplined himself; he told his heart, "Silence!" Ladies,
the more inward government we have, the less outward government we'll
need. Hence, the great value of those quiet moments! No wonder Satan seeks
to keep us busy going to and fro as scripture states he himself does...
Job 1:7
And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered
the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking
up and down in it.
If this is a description of your life, beware Christian woman! It's in
total opposition to the way the Lord would have His children behaving
themselves. Who has control of your soul these days? Are you wisely incorporating
times of quiet while carrying out your daily responsibilities? I know
it's not easy, but it is very necessary!
1 Thessalonians 4:11a
And that ye study to be quiet...
Ladies, we must study this topic; apply our minds to it, commit to it,
examine our lives closely for quietness. Why? First of all, because we
are commanded to by our heavenly Father! He knows the distractions this
world has to offer us. He knows the struggles we are up against, that
which would threaten our peace and destroy us. Quietness, therefore, must
become a priority in our lives, a goal that we are determined to achieve
in our hearts and in our homes. Look how many children and even adults
are labeled ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder - as they call it. I daresay
such individuals never seriously studied, or were made to work very hard
at keeping themselves still - physically, emotionally or spiritually.
It's a lack of personal training for ADD is nothing more than A Discipline
Dilemma! Now that the world has given us a unique title and an excuse
for our neglect of God's command to be quiet, we have given up and given
in to the devil's strategy of filling our lives with noise, confusion,
strife and every evil work and now we attempt to quiet our spirits by
taking a pill!
Psalm 46:10a
Be still, and know that I am God…
The Bible tells us that those whose minds are stayed on God are kept in
perfect peace. People are able to still themselves when they become acquainted
with who God is. Mother, are you training your children to be quiet? Have
you trained yourself first?? Are you placing as much importance on a quiet
spirit as the Lord does? You shall know a tree by its fruits...
Isaiah 32:17
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance forever.
When God's Spirit has truly been provided the opportunity to meet with
us in special moments of quiet, His work of righteousness in our hearts
will be seen in our lives and the lives of our children. It cannot be
mistaken and it cannot be shaken! Quietness is the effect God has upon
His children as they regularly spend time in His presence. If your spirit
is stressed, if your home is out of order, it proves to me that you have
forsaken something very valuable! You have turned your back on something
God says is of GREAT PRICE. Therefore it is worth getting up early for...
Job 34:29
When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?
How foolish we are to ignore that which God highly values! Would you describe
yourself as a woman with a quiet spirit? Are you easily provoked? Would
your family and those who know you well say that you have a quieting affect
upon them? When you enter a room, do you carry with you an atmosphere
of peace, quietness and assurance, or does the noise level increase and
the tension rise? Is it easy to stir things up at your house or does quietness
reside with the members and atmosphere of your home in general? Ladies,
this world needs more quiet spirits brought back into it!! Will you be
one of them? Usually things that are rare are of higher value... Considering
the sight of God, how would He view your spirit today?
Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of
sacrifices with strife.
Ecc. 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail
and vexation of spirit.
Yes, all the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly
with the Lord for an appointed time each day! We won't have adequate perception
of this world without it. Quietness restores the flavor to life that is
missing. Isn't that why everyone is running to and fro? People are scurrying
about trying to secure peace of mind, financial security, marital bliss,
family harmony etc. while making huge sacrifices only to end up with vexation
of spirit. It's so much better to have little on earth yet plenty of quietness
in the heart and home! However, it's only available when we turn to God...
Isaiah 30:15
For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and
rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:
and ye would not.
John Greenleaf Whittier penned these words so appropriately:
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
Perhaps you've never taken the time to consider quietness as an important
quality in your Christian life. If so, I hope you've been challenged today
by this study. A genuine turning to God can change a stressed heart, mind,
and home into a quiet, peaceful one! Quietness is submission in action...
Have you actively placed yourself in a position to hear from the Lord?
Have you submitted yourself to being still before Him? Turn off the television,
turn off the radio, put away your book, unplug the telephone, and pull
yourself away from the computer long enough to find the quiet that awaits
you with all it's heavenly benefits! Seek God early; seek Him in the special
quiet of the morning and you'll carry His peace with you all throughout
your day!
Psalm 5:3
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I
direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
