This week the Lord is speaking to me about “voice”—the message He entrusts to each of us and the means by which He asks us to share it. Yesterday I began my focused time with Him about this subject and was surprised to hear, “Be silent.”
Immediately two scriptures came to mind:
“A time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,” Ecclesiastes 3: 7
AND
“Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for He is aroused from His holy habitation.” Zechariah 2:13
God gives all of His children a voice with which to speak. You do not need to be a professional speaker, teacher, preacher, writer, singer, or songwriter to speak the truths of God. We each have a voice.
He does want us all to learn the value of silence. Silence before Him when He says, “Be still and know that I am God.”(Psalm 46:10) or when He visits us and makes our space His holy habitation (Zechariah 2:13).
He instructs us to be silent in our relationship with others as well. You may know the truth that needs to be applied to a situation, but unless the Lord—and the person you are talking to—gives you permission to speak, be silent.
When God asks you to stay silent in relationship with others, I believe it is His nudge to pray. There are times when to speak would be to tear down. Silence may be the very thing the Lord will use to mend.
I, for one, do not think that the Ecclesiastes verse is a coincidence: that tearing and mending, staying silent and speaking are a part of the same verse.
Stay mindful of Holy Spirit’s guidance and boundaries with the voice He has entrusted to you. Silence may be the very thing He uses to mend hearts, relationships, and lives.
Be silent if instructed and watch God bring truth in other ways.
Discipline your voice and God will give you the opportunity to speak.
Practice the fruit of self-control with your words and honor God.
Be silent and witness God’s holy habitation.