A person who talks to much tends to miss out on a lot of the things going on around them. God speaks to each and everyone of us, to hear him just depends on if you’re paying attention. It wasn’t till just recently I realized that I find comfort in the sound of my own voice.
We were walking to ministry Friday and I found myself distant from the conversation of the group. Instead I was focused on the sounds of nature around us and the view of the mountains. This was unusual for me but I felt like I was finally understanding something I had been missing out on all month here in Mokhotlong. When we arrived at the school we’ve been helping out at in the mornings I distanced myself from the group. I wanted to take about 15 minutes to just listen and be alone with God and my thoughts. The peace from being silent led me to the decision to withhold from speaking till it seemed absolutely necessary. I didn’t speak the entire 3 hours of ministry and several hours after. While we were cleaning the classrooms I just listened to the conversations around me.
I noticed that I’m not the only person here that likes to hear themselves speak. It seems to me that just about everyone of us loves to talk about themselves. For the most part whenever someone could change the direction of the conversation to make it about them it happened. We weren’t talking to hear each other, we were taking turns changing the discussion to be about the particular person speaking at that moment. We’re often times so focused on how we can change the conversation to be about ourselves we miss what was even being said. This often leads to foolish and pointless discussions on who has the best family run Mexican restaurant ( its Carmelites on Park street by the way). This is when it finally hit me, I love to be the center of the conversation with the group. I love to make the room burst out in laughter. I love to be heard, but what my peers were hearing wasn’t wisdom. They were hearing foolishness, pointless sentences constructed to make me feel more important than I actually am.
This was God knocking my ego down a few pegs. He had me remaining silent to see that what I often talk about wasn’t nearly as important as I often make it out to be. He was answering a prayer I sent up about two weeks ago. I prayed for a more humble mindset and in this moment he was giving me the option to do something about it. He was giving me the option to listen more and miss out less on what he has for me.
“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” – Proverbs 17:28
This verse really spoke to me in my time of silence. I’ve been squandering my intelligence and speaking over God when I could have been listening and growing. All for a few moments of attention from the group. Gods plan for me is so much bigger than anything I could possibly do on my own. Which is why along with continuing to humble myself I’m giving God more opportunity to speak in my life.
What do you have planned for me today God?
I urge you to take a step back from your own little world and ask that question at the start of everyday. I’m sure you’ll hear more wisdom and speak less foolishness.
