Today is day 2 of our series, Praying Big Prayers to Our Amazing God. This series uses prayer prompts from the book #Instaprayer, Prayers to Share by Kelly O’Dell Stanley. Jodie brings our devotion using the prayer prompt, “No words today…just sit in silence and listen to God,” reassuring us that our amazing God sees our heart’s position. And because He does, we can trust He knows the longings of our hearts.
“Dear Lord, I can’t find the right words. Can you please just listen through my heart.” Unknown
I saw these words during a google search and I understood completely. I found myself at the feet of God unable to form words, morning after morning when my son was killed. Grief stole them, but God did not need them.
His responses to my wordless prayers have convinced me time and again that he does not need my words. He only needs to see a heart seeking Him. God formed our hearts, knows our hearts inside out, and He hears and understands the wordless cries of a heart positioned in prayer.
While “such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand (Psalm 139:6),” I trust. Grief may have taken my words, but it strengthened my trust in the Lord. I trust He hears me as I sit to seek him in prayer with nothing to say.
He sees our heart’s position. And because He does, we can trust He knows the longings of our hearts.
The position of our heart matters in prayer. I’m not talking about whether you sit, stand, or lie down, although we can find evidence of these in the scriptures, I am speaking about the state of our hearts. Do we come with humble hearts? Repentant hearts? Do we come desiring time with God, acknowledging who He is and trusting His will and way? Are we alert, guarding against the enemy? Are we approaching with obedient hearts? Joyful hearts? Hearts ready to praise?
A silent heart filled with a desire to know, trust, and hear God is positioned differently than a silent heart not wanting a relationship with God. God knew that even while grief stole my words that I longed to talk with Him, to hear from Him.
He recognizes a heart desiring time with God; one acknowledging who God is and trusting His will and His way (even without understanding). Morning after morning, I would position myself to meet the Lord. Often with tears and a pen in hand. I planned to ink out my prayers and instead I recorded his beautiful responses to the wordless cry of my heart. As I saw His goodness my repeated prayer throughout each day for the longest time was simply stated, “Lord, rain back the tears you see and refresh my soul.”
Have you been without words to pray? Your heart longs to commune with God in prayer but nothing verbal will emerge. Formless words are laying in your heart. We can trust that God can understand what we cannot express (Romans 8:26). The next time you sit in silence, listen. This time without words is an opportunity for you to hear God’s voice.
Silence can be a place of sanctuary.
A place where God’s word is strong and clear, bringing peace, pouring in joy, developing strength.
Sanctuary. A place of rescue for the brokenhearted. A place where God’s presence consumes and covers.
A place of hope.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62:5-6 ESV
Silence is the window for surrender. Just as the psalmist prays in Psalm 143:8, “let me hear your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you,” so can we. Without words we can present our hearts in surrender, allowing the silence of your lips to make a way for the cry of your heart. The Creator understands. His Spirit intercedes. Our amazing God will respond. Through His word. Through a friend. Through a small gesture or a mighty miracle.
Do you find yourself with no words today? “Just sit in silence and listen to God.”
You may find that your prayers are more meaningful than ever before.
Pray with us: Father, Creator, we open our hearts to you. Hear the moans of our hearts. The ones we cannot formulate into words. Help us trust that you understand even when we do not. Help us listen as we release our burdens. Silence doesn’t always feel right in prayer, but Lord we trust that you can use silence as an opportunity for surrender. Help us surrender to you, today. Amen
The prayer prompts used during our series are from #Instaprayer, Prayers to Share by Kelly O’dell Stanley.
Beautiful, Jodie. At times silence seems so foreign—even scary. In a world of noise it is important to sit still—be still with our Father. I have had times in my life where there where no words, but I knew the Holy Spirit was interceding for me. Our peace and hope is always found in God.
He meets me in the silence more often than in the “noise.” Often my silence is me coming to the end of myself and allowing the beginning of something incredible from God. Love you, dear friend.
I sometime I think I fill my world with “noise” because it allows me to block out the silence where I will be forced to feel the pain of loss and disappointment…does that makes sense? In the silence the presence of God can be deafening, and I know my only response will be cries…no words.
Your response does make sense to me, Lana. The silence may be something we avoid when we fear what we have to face. Loss and disappointment come with very difficult stages. “Noise” helps me avoid walking through some of what hurts most. I too have filled my life with noise to help guard my heart. I have to fall back into trust and all God’s presence to help me through the hard…trust Him to guard my heart. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 Thank you for sharing, Lana.
Tuesday I was totally without words and as I sat in my recliner requesting prayer from my prayer warrior friends in a text group one of them privately messaged me with a youtube called “Battle Ready Prayer”. As the man prayed this 15 minute prayer Scripture verses scrolled on a black back round. I sat there head phones on soaking in the prayer I needed to pray but I didn’t have the words. Then I played it again and wrote down each scripture address and then wrote out each scripture. It was just what my wordless heart needed. Later in the day I got some medical news that disturbed me but I was battle ready and whispered God, I don’t understand the need for this journey but I know you do, I trust you….and I felt peace.
Sorry, I meant to post this as a separate post but Lana, I want you to know I can so relate to your words!
I think you felt what I am feeling as I read this, Nancy. God was preparing, supplying, equipping his girl for the battle. He used sisters, His word, and your willing heart. You have traveled this journey like a warrior. I am praying for and with you, Jodie
I often find it difficult to sit in silence when with another person. Meaningless chatter flows out of my mouth and that’s what I do with God, too. When I find myself unable to formulate a prayer and offer up silence, before I know it my minds voice fills that sacred space with anything that comes to mind. It is encouraging to me to think that God can see past that and into my seeking heart. Thank you Jodie for always giving me something to cling to!
Cindy, we are cut from the same thread. Remind me to tell you about the first book I was quoted in. God can do so much with our seeking hearts.