For some reason, writing this devo has felt a little more difficult than usual… there hasn’t been a specific passage coming to mind, no major thoughts or recent epiphanies (not even from my garden or the changing autumn colours)… my thoughts simply feel quiet.
And then all of a sudden it was like I could slowly hear Rebecca St. James singing back to me from a far-off, long forgotten corner of my memory…
You are God in Heaven
And here am I on earth
So I’ll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with you
And I’ll stand in awe of you, Jesus
Yes, I’ll stand in awe of you
And I’ll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You
The simplest of all love songs
I want to bring to you
So I’ll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You
And I’ll stand in awe of you, Jesus
Yes, I’ll stand in awe of you
And I’ll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You
Maybe it’s okay not to have lots of big thoughts; maybe it’s okay to be quiet.
Maybe it’s actually good to pause and sit in the stillness of our thoughts…
There is plenty to do and lots of exciting life unfolding around us.
New challenges arising while new dreams begin to stir…
Old battles waging as ancient truths continue to settle…
Rodney had mentioned King Solomon on Sunday, and some of his writings from Ecclesiastes. The song above led me to another passage written by that very wise, and very human, king:
Guard your steps 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,
ecclesiastes 5:1-6
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.
A dream comes when there are many cares,
and many words mark the speech of a fool.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin…
Solomon ends that passage by writing, “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:7)
May we find peace in the presence of God and wisely draw near to listen, rather than to speak.
May our words be few as we pause, in awe, at who God is.