Discipline of Silence

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Psalms 46:10 (ESV)
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

This morning as I was praying, I was reminded of a sermon I preached a few weeks ago – “The Discipline of Silence.”  I was just talking away to God, asking Him for several things for my family and my ministry.  I was praying for the couples I am currently counseling and also some of the issues that are going on in church.  During that time, I heard in my spirit God ask me when it was going to be His time to talk.  Of course I immediately stopped and ask Him to forgive me of hogging the conversation.  I am guilty of always talking while I pray and then just getting up to leave never really sitting quietly listening to the Spirit of God.

The psalmist is writing about all the troubles that are going on around him and how God is his strength and refuge in those times.  He sings about God’s stability even though the world around him and us for that matter is chaotic and tumultuous.  God is never moved by anything other than His own desire.  The psalmist then calls others to recognize God for who He is.  While the psalmist is recalling some of the awesome traits of God, God interrupts his song with the command to “BE STILL.”  WOW!!! The Hebrew word actually means to stop.  Stop what?  Stop worrying, stop striving, stop trying to find answers, and stop striving in this world.  One author actually says that “it means that if the house is on fire, you are supposed to sit down and relax.”  Now that seems to be extremely farfetched.  We would want to try and save as much as we possibly could.  We would want to help put out the fire…we would have to do something.  God says, “Be still.”

Remember the story of Elijah in I Kings 19 when God was trying to speak to him.  God brought about an earthquake, a mighty rushing wind, and a fire, before He spoke in the “still small voice.”  Again, the phrase actually means “in silence.”  Yes, sometimes God will use something spectacular to get our attention.  But most of the time when God wants to say something very important, He waits until we are still and silent so He can speak through that silent moment of time.  God wanted Elijah to know Him as God.  He tells the psalmist to “be still and know that I am God.”  He desires for us to listen to Him so that we can know exactly what His will is for our lives.

Who is God to you?  Have you taken the time to be still in order to know Him?  Sometime in history, someone labeled a personal time with God as a “Quiet Time.”  I wonder how many of us are actually quiet during that time.  Do we talk the whole time?  Are we willing to listen?  The discipline of silence is one that brings us more into the presence of God than many of the other disciplines.  Are we ready to know God?  Then we need to be still.

Moving Weekend

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IMG_0105Today we are moving Caleb, our son, into an apartment in Arkadelphia for his last couple of years of college.  He is so excited about the idea of being on his own.  On Monday we take Danielle, our daughter, to Fort Worth for her seminary experience.  IMG_0106She should be there for two years then off to the international mission fields.  What emotions run through my mind.  Lisa and I will be in our house by ourselves for the most part now.  I start asking myself if I have done a good job raising my children.  Have I prepared them for the real world?  Will they be able to survive?  Have I taught them to trust God properly?

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I know that these questions will be answered in time.  I also know that they are responsible to learn what they have been taught.  As the saying goes, “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.”  I pray that their desires to follow the Lord’s leading will control their decision making and thought processes along the way.

When you think about all the opportunities of teaching you have with your children over the years, you just pray you used them wisely.  I know that my children tell me that Lisa and I did a good job.  I hear other people tell me that we did a good job.  Now comes the true test.

Spiritual Warfare Part 2

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As I shared a couple of days ago, we are in a battle that is ever present in our lives.  We struggle on some days while the others we seem to be strong and not bothered by the annoyances or the attacks of the spiritual battle.  The idea of us being victorious in our lives can be realized if we are willing to be obedient to Christ.  He gives us instructions as well as equipment for our daily lives.  Once we know that we are in the battle, we need to know how to “dress” for the battle.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The Apostle Paul gives us the description of our battle attire which we must put on daily.  Each part of our armor has a purpose in our protection from the enemy.

  • Belt of Truth:  On the Roman soldier, his belt was like a utility belt that would hold his weapons or essentials for his assignment.  Jesus says that He is “the Truth.”  Jesus needs to be our belt.  Not only do we need Jesus to be our belt, but we must live in the Truth of God’s word.
  • Breastplate of Righteousness:  The breastplate would be either thick leather or a type of metal that covered the upper torso of the soldier.  Some of them would only cover the front, while others covered both the front and the back.  We choose to live righteously.  I know that God is the one that makes us righteous, but it is our choice to live in the righteous deeds that please God.  He makes us righteous, but several times in scripture we are told to “put on the new man.”  We must choose to be righteous.  When we do, our hearts are protected.
  • Shoes of the Gospel of Peace:  The foot-soldier would wear sandals which had some form of spikes on the bottom for traction in the rocky terrain.  Our shoes need to be the preparation of the Gospel.  Do we know the gospel?  Can we share the gospel?  We will be firmly planted in the battle if we are prepared in knowing the Gospel of peace.
  • Shield of Faith:  There were two different types of shields a soldier would use.  One was about 3 feet in diameter that was used in hand to hand combat.  The shield here described is that of the heavy infantry; a large, oblong shield, four by two and a half feet, and sometimes curved on the inner side. (Word Studies in the New Testament.)  The soldiers would stand side by side and actually form a wall as they moved as one.  What a picture for us as believers!  We need to have people that are standing with us, side by side, aiding us in our spiritual walk.  Our belief in God is paramount in our battle with the enemy.  As the enemy shoots his arrows at us, we must know that God is bigger than anything that comes our way.  We must know that He is at work in all of our circumstances for His glory and our good.  (Even circumstances we don’t like.)
  • Helmet of Salvation:  The helmet of the soldier was to protect his head.  Some of them would cover everything except the eyes while others would be open in the facial area.  Again, metal or leather would be used to make up the helmet just like the breastplate and shield.  I have heard many preachers say that we need to be saved based on this piece of equipment.  The problem with that is that it is the last thing that the soldier is to put on.  You cannot have any other aspect of the armor if you are not a believer in Christ.  I believe the helmet represents the knowledge of your salvation.  We cannot be very effective as a Christian if there are a lot of doubts about our salvation.  We have to know that we are saved.  No doubts and no questions.  Satan loves to attack us with doubt.  The helmet protects us from those.
  • The Sword of the Spirit:  This sword is about 20 to 24 inches long and is double-edged.  It was used by the soldier in hand to hand combat.  The picture here is a battle that is in close range where other weapons would not be effective.  The only offensive weapon that is used is the Word of God.  Jesus quoted scripture as He was tempted in Matt. 4.  We need to have a good grasp of scripture and realize that scripture is our only offense against Satan and his horde.
  • Pray in the Spirit:  The final aspect of the battle is our prayer lives.  God knows how He wants us to pray and the Spirit prays for us.  We need to join Him in our prayers.  Without prayer, we cannot join God in the battle.  We would be alone.  We also need to pray for others that are in the battle as well.  Strength comes from knowing that we are not alone as we fight this war that is raging.

I realize that this subject is tough.  I have struggled with these last two writings as the enemy does not want us to be aware of him.  Satan would love for us to ignore his presence as he attacks.  God wants us to be very aware.  We are in a battle.  Are we armed?  Are we wearing God’s armor?  We must get dressed for battle every day!

Are You Naked?

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Izod, Polo, Chanel, Liz Claiburne, Armani, Hagar, Arrow, Dockers, ECT…Each one of these names carries with it a thought about clothing or fashion.  Many are affordable while others are not.  We might like a certain name brand more than others or wish we could afford one that is out of our reach, yet the brand or label is on a piece of clothing.  What would it be like if we decided because we couldn’t afford to purchase our favorite label of clothing, we didn’t wear any clothes at all?  Some people might not look that bad unclothed, but most of us need to stay covered up.  Clothes provide us with protection, warmth on a cold day, or just the decency of not showing all of our wrinkles, rolls, or imperfections.

What does this have to do with anything?  Most of us would agree that wearing clothes is a good thing (most of the time anyway).  Over the years of talking to people about attending church, I have heard all kinds of excuses of why not to attend.  The most common has been that they don’t like man-made religion.  I have always agreed with that statement.  I don’t believe that God likes man-made religion either.  Matter of fact in James 1 He gives us the definition of religion that He likes.

James 1:26-27 (ESV)
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Just as clothes have labels, churches have labels.  We might not agree with everything that takes place within this denomination or that one, nor will we agree with everything that a particular church does or teaches.

Do you like praise choruses or hymns; bands or organs; skits & videos or liturgies?  Every one of us has a different taste of what is meaningful worship.  Is one right and one wrong? Or is one better than the other?  The only way to answer that is by searching scriptures.  I can just imagine the churches in Jesus’ day arguing if the songs of David were better than the songs of Solomon or even Moses.  Maybe someone would like the harp better than the lyre and the cymbals.  Even in the church at Corinth, they argued about who was the most important teacher; as they said I follow Paul or I follow Apollos.  Paul states that each person had a place.  I believe that each denomination or each style of worship has a place.  Not everyone is going to believe or worship exactly alike.

But, God has put the church here for us to be a part of a family of caring individuals that worship Him together and share His love with a hurting world by sharing Jesus Christ.  Can we agree that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven?  Can we agree that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross and that He rose again on the 3rd day victorious?  Also, can we agree that through a personal relationship with Jesus gives us victory for today and hope for eternity?  Those questions lead us to common ground.  We need to focus on that commonality and not on our difference.

As a believer, are you walking around naked?  I hope not.  Find that church that best fits what you believe the Bible teaches about God and His Son Jesus, while supporting you in your walk with Him.

Purpose Statement

I provide Biblical Counseling for:
  • People who are hurting in their marriages and families.
  • People who are hurting emotionally and spiritually.
  • People who are seeking freedom from the bondage in their lives.

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Location & Phone Number

5411 PLAZA DR STE G
TEXARKANA, TX 75503
PHONE: (903) 244-5150


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