Go Near to Listen

Father, let my mouth be closed and my ears be open. Let me not speak unless Your Word is within me. Help me test what I see and hear. Help me to measure before I speak. Every day the world babbles, and every day the world shouts. But strengthen my attention to pass them by and to hear Your still, small voice that comes to me and counsels me. Let it thunder in my soul! Let me hear my Shepherd; let me hear my Shepherd! Let Your Spirit open my heart to Your truth, to the power of Your Word, to the love and mercy in Your heart. Wash away the debris and let my thoughts be captive to Christ. Let me sit at his feet and listen and choose what is good and best. You have made Yourself known through Your Word and Your voice and Your creation and Your people and Your acts of compassion in this very life. Everything sings for You, and everyone claps his hands and declares Your glory. How can we ever miss You? And with eyes so full, how can we ever look in a mirror to see ourselves? This life, this journey, this eternity, this moment of light and love, is all about You, all about You! And You let us be the witnesses. You let us taste and see that You are good. Your Spirit fills us so that we might recognize and rejoice in and rest in Christ. O LORD, You have been good; and You have been faithful; and You have been merciful; and You have been amazing in grace! Let us listen and hear and know. And let my words proclaim! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few.   --- Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.  --- Habakkuk 2:20

Richard Wallace