Stillness: A Worship Exercise

The earth is blanketed with snow; at least the earth in my back yard.  When it snows in the south everything screeches to a halt, even Sunday worship.  So today most churches in my very southern city of Shelby, NC are not gathering for worship.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing.  In fact, it could be very good.  The past three days of snow paralysis has given me the opportunity to do something I don’t do enough of… be still.  I’ve been spending long periods of time meditating, listening, being quiet, being still (at least more than I normally do) and I think it’s been a good thing.

Here’s a phrase from one of the ancient song writers of Israel.  “Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

Somehow when I get still, when I become silent, when I let my activity filled world come to a dead stop, God shows up.  God invades stillness.  Personal, intimate, transcendent knowledge of God happens in the stillness of my soul.

Perhaps it is fair to say it this way.  God… the deepest and most profound personhood of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit… is simply not knowable apart from stillness. 

Kyle Murphy, the worship leader at my church, and I have had several conversations about what it would be like if we put this instruction into practice one Sunday morning by having a “Be Still Sunday.”  When our church gathered for worship we would announce that the worship hour would consist of no songs and no sermon.  For one hour we would be silent and still so that we can know that Yahweh is God. 

I wonder how our people would respond.  Would our people step into the stillness?  Embrace the silence?  Would they bolt for the door?     

So here’s my challenge, especially for the Zoar Church family.  Be still as a worship exercise.  Since we’re not gathering for worship this morning what if you took an hour (the worship hour) to be still.  For an hour just be still, be silent.  Listen.  Don’t talk.  Don’t ask God for anything.  Just be still and know God.

Start the hour with this prayer.  “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.”  Then be still and silent for an hour.  When the hour is over end with this prayer.  “Thank you…Thank you…Thank you.  Amen”