Be Still
by Stuart Malkin 21 September 2021
Just for a moment take that instance when there is silence all around you!
It doesn’t happen very often and all to often there is something however tiny the noise may be that comes and ruins that urgency for perfect silence within you.
Sometimes you want to pray, but you want it to be a conversation with God, a word that is not ruined by anything.
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Reading Luke 22 v39 to 45
Jesus left the city and went as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him. When he arrived at the place, he said to them “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed. “Father” he said, “if you will take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like blood falling to the ground.
Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
I wonder if you as a youngster were ever told to keep still, if so you know how difficult, if not impossible, it is. The brain and mind just doesn’t allow it to happen, consequently, silence is also a partner.
We have two young granddaughters who fall into the impossible category when it comes to be still and I have to say the youngest must have been born with a spring as part of her anatomy. I have often wondered how teachers create and maintain a class of stillness and silence when it really matters. So, are we taught to have these characteristics, or do we have them as part of our DNA.
The Bible tells us that Jesus often needed to be alone to talk with his Father no greater than on the Mount of Olives prior to his capture and ultimate crucifixion. There is no doubt there was a mixture of experiences going through his mind, in a way he wanted to be still but what was going to happen in the near future however there was a need for the disciples not to be far away in readiness for the happenings. Sleep took them over almost like children experiencing ultimate stillness and silence.
As his disciples we need to be near Jesus and the more silence the more stillness we will find the closer we will get.
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Prayer
Father God as we experience stillness in our lives may we experience peace. May this be the case for all mankind.
Amen