Psalm 95, 88; Psalm 91, 92
Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20; Romans 6:1-11; John 8:33-47
Throughout writings of the Christian Fathers and Nouwen's writings prayer and silence are equated. Responding to yesterday's post folks spoke of most experiencing God when at the very least in solitude.
For example Chrysostom states of Jesus: For what purpose does he go up into the hills on the mountain? To teach us that solitude and seclusion are good, when we are to pray to God. With this in view, you see, we find him continually withdrawing into the wilderness. There he often spends the whole night in prayer. This teaches us earnestly to seek such quietness in our prayers as the time and place may afford. For the wilderness is the mother of silence; it is a calm and a harbor, delivering us from all turmoils.
Yet, tongues or prayer language are often held up in churches like Church of the Apostles as a way to approach God that yields similar peace with added certainty of praying the right things. Maybe I haven't dug deeply enough to find someone who distinguishes the fruits of each so, here I'm digging...
Questions for reflection:
What is the place of tongues/a personal prayer language & silence in your prayer life?
When Paul writes of praying in tongues more than anyone why isn't there a similar boast of being silent more than anyone?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Prayer Renews: Friday, Third Week of Lent
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1 comment:
I think silence before God is very different from praying in a prayer language. The prayer language can be in intimate way of praising God, or a means of lifting my soul and heart to God. But it still involves some activity on my part.
Silence involves slowing down, waiting in a receptive posture, (be still and know that I am God), putting aside my need to *do something* and allowing my soul to *rest* in Him.
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