This was originally written a couple of years ago, when the Secret Garden was a new place for me to sit and "rest" and pray and worship the Lord. I am sorry to say that I have fallen away from that daily habit in the years since, although I do still go out there periodically when I really need to just be "silent" before the Lord. I think I am due for a visit, but not today. It's been raining non-stop all day and is about 48 degrees out there right now. However, since this is a Sunday afternoon, my thoughts have been on resting in the Lord. This past week was full of turmoil in the world, and my heart and soul need a rest from the news and sorrow of how dark our nation is becoming. So come along with me as we enter the Secret Garden and sit silently and give our hearts and minds some "rest".
Original Post 1/28/17:
As we enter the Secret Garden today, this song comes back to me once again:
"The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord is in His holy temple;
Let all the earth keep silence,
Let all the earth keep silence before Him,
Keep silence, keep silence before Him."
Amen
In yesterday's post I wrote about Psalm 37, and in the process of reading that passage, verse 7 in particular...please note where it says "REST in the Lord...", there is a reference in my Bible that says the words "Rest in the Lord" literally means "Be silent to the Lord, and it gives a reference to Psalm 62:1, which says "Truly my soul silently waits for God..."
Well, since writing yesterday's post these words keep coming back to me, especially in the form of the call to worship chorus "The Lord Is In His Holy Temple", which is actually a quote from Habakkuk 2:20. In trying to understand how the words "REST in the Lord" equates with the translation "Be SILENT to the Lord", the Lord drew my attention back to this song...and it's as if God is making a point here to me to notice something in this song that further explains what He means by REST=SILENCE.
Let us look at this music score together so we can further understand what God is telling me through this passage:
Do you see where it says, "Let all the earth keep silence" and then there is a little note or musical symbol after the word SILENCE...and that symbol is actually called a REST, which means that the singer and the instruments literally stop and REST, or be SILENT for just that moment before continuing on to the next phrase/note. If you will further "note" (pun intended) the REST comes again after "Let all the earth keep silence before Him, and then every time after the word "Silence", there is another REST! Do you see what I see???
Lord, I love that YOU are making this point, especially in light of the fact that my "One Word" for 2017 is REST...and here I am, attempting to do just that as I come before Your presence here in this place that has been set apart particularly for worship, meditation, and REST in You. I am in awe of what You are showing me as we come together each day. Even though we are learning here that REST=SILENCE, I am seeing that in this time of RESTing in You, and being SILENT to You, I am learning more about what it means to truly WORSHIP YOU. The only thing is, it really is difficult for me to be SILENT when everything we do here leads me to give You praise! However, I know there is something beautiful in silently coming before the Lord...and waiting on You to lead the way.
These songs come to my mind and voice as I think about this...
"Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine."
("Open My Eyes That I May See" by Clara H. Scott)
and
"Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me.
Melt me, Mold me, Fill me, Use me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall fresh on me."
("Spirit of the Living God" by Daniel Iverson)
Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to come into Your Presence each day. As I leave this place today, I am refreshed and rested. I am learning more about what it means to be silent before the Lord...and to allow His soothing Presence to calm my spirit and fill me with His Spirit...and then I am better equipped to tackle whatever comes along.
Praise God!
Amen.
The illustration provided by the sheet music with its rests is so profound, Pamela. How amazing it is that God speaks to our hearts in the smallest of details!
ReplyDeleteI am so loving seeing your progress in the secret garden, and that you are finding it a true place of rest, waiting silently upon the Lord.
Blessings!
Thank you Martha Jane! I couldn't get that little song out of my head last night, and the Lord kept prompting me to look a little closer...and it was so amazing to see how He was making His point so beautifully! Thank you for joining me here as we "rest" in silence before Him and worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. Such a blessing. God bless you my friend.
DeleteIn this difficult month for me I chose the word "rest" for my word for the year, so I especially like your post. A previous year I chose "listen", also in your post and in Scripture.
ReplyDeleteI think REST is a perfect choice for you...God is with you and He will give you REST as you learn to lean on Him and allow Him to CARRY you through all of the difficult bumps in the road ahead. Learning to come before Him in "silence",listening for His voice, He will guide you in the way you should go. You can rely on Him always. Continuing in prayer for you, Terra. May God bring comfort and peace to you.
DeleteGod is so Good. As you pointed out a rest in music is momentary and I already know this is going to make a difference in the frenzy of my daily life as I begin to practice brief moments of rest. Thank you for sharing your secret garden discoveries.
ReplyDeleteYes, we don't have to go sleep for an hour or two...just take short, deep breaths in between the music of life...and listen/watch for God to direct the next beat in the notes for us to resume our song...He will always keep us "in tune" with Him if we just pay attention!
DeleteBeautiful, Pam. I have a huge problem with trying to be silent. I always seem to be needing to be busy lately and that includes having noise all around me. This is a wonderful reminder that we don't have to be talking all the time when we commune with Him. We can just be silent.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a new discipline for me. I tend to do a lot of talking and making noise, and am easily distracted by birds and other beautiful things around me...but God is helping me to FOCUS on HIM...(focus was my ONE WORD a couple of years ago, and I think God needed extra time to teach me how to be focused on Him!) Yes, it is good to learn that we can be silent in the Presence of the Lord...and He is PRESENT and ready to commune with us in that blessed silence. So wonderful.
DeleteAmen and Amen. My heart is full...Thank you Pam for another great message that touched my heart. God is surely using you in a wonderful way.
ReplyDeletePraise God...I am so thankful that He is working through this flawed vessel. He is ministering to me and you at the same time. How Great is Our God!!!
DeleteA beautiful message shared straight from the heart of the Lord, so powerful. Rest=silence means no speaking. How many times do we miss a word from the Lord to our hearts because we are too busy speaking and telling Him what we want or what we think. Some years ago the Lord impressed on my heart the importance of listening as perhaps the most important part of prayer. How can I hear His still small voice if I am constantly chattering away at Him? I try to remember that even as in a conversation with a friend, there is a two-way street, one must listen as well as speak. As in prayer, we must learn to let the Lord speak to us, as much as we are crying out to Him.
ReplyDeleteSo thankful you have found a sweet oasis for the presence of the Lord to restore your soul. Such a blessing! Makes me think of the song... I come to the garden... blessings and hugs to you dear friend, have a blessed Sunday!
Yes, I am learning to "listen" in the silent times of worship, with pen & journal in hand and Bible on my knee, and a song in my heart. God is teaching me new ways of worship and growing in Him, and I am loving this. So thankful for His patience with me, who tends to be noisy, restless and somewhat undisciplined when it comes to being still and silent. So...God has His work cut out for Him...but He knows what He is doing! Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement!
DeleteSilence, rest is so important to the whole of who we are--just like a rest in a piece of music gives a "space" for the music to resonate. Silence can be challenging in a variety of ways. God can speak during times of silence. Will we like what He has to say is the question?
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Pam, thank you for sharing this deeply meaningful post again. I definitely needed the reminder to be silent before God. God can really work in those silences. I think I'll allow my above comment from 2017 to speak again this time. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Thank you for coming back to visit this again, Kim. Yes, I needed to be re-reminded to be silent before the Lord and to rest in Him each day. We tend to get busy and forget this all important discipline of resting in His love, goodness, and peace. Especially in this current world of turmoil. We need to pull away and find solace as often as possible. Have a blessed day today, dear friend. Hope you are keeping warm!!
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