Quiet. Silence. Stillness. Sometimes these words can strike fear. Fear of being alone in your thoughts and with your true self. Fear of being truly quiet and hearing your Heavenly Father speak to you. But sometimes these words can bring calm. They can be a welcome invitation to sit in solitude and receive what your soul and spirit needs the most…refreshment.

Currently at my church we are beginning a season of fasting as we approach Easter. During this season I have felt the need to experience more quiet, more silence, and more stillness. I have felt the call to lean in to hearing what my Heavenly Father is speaking to me. To accomplish this, I feel led to lean in by removing distractions. In light of this I have decided to fast from a few things such as posting blogs, checking and posting on social media, and more. I am making an effort to usher in more quiet, more silence, and more stillness in an effort to make space to hear from my Heavenly Father. After this post, there will not be another post until the week of April 17.

What can you do to incorporate more quiet, more silence, and more stillness into your daily routine? What do you need to put aside to make space to hear from your Heavenly Father? 

Some examples of digital fasting:

• Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, etc)
• Screens of any kind (TV, tablet, phone, computer- outside of work)
• Podcasts/audible/kindle – take a break and read a physical book or your Bible

There are other ways to fast or empty the busy space and clear the way to fill up with the word. Fasting from food (make sure this is medically safe for you and you speak with your doctor before beginning), spending, or anything the Lord is laying on your heart to give up are additional ways to participate in the fast. Fasting is really just removing the distractions and replacing them with time in the word so you can be filled.  Remember we want to take intentional time to worship, pray and seek the Lord during this time of fasting. Will you join me? 

Below is a song that sets the tone for engaging in some quiet, silence, and stillness. In fact, it ends with quiet space to help you get started. Give it a listen!

“Quiet” by Elevation Worship

Here we go again, my mind racing

And I can’t seem to win

All these crazy thoughts and feelings

It’s like it never ends

Until Your voice breaks through my noise

And I know I’m not alone, not alone

You will fight my battles

If I will just be still

Why would I keep running

When You’re right here?

I’ll just be quiet

And let You speak through the silence

Here I am, no more hiding

You are in this moment, I won’t fight it

I’ll be quiet

I don’t need to know what comes next

Tomorrow’s in Your hands

I can trust You with my future

‘Cause You’re already there

I hear Your voice call me forward

And I know I’m not alone, not alone

Away with the distractions

I wanna hear what’s true

The only words that matter

They come from You

I’ll just be quiet

And let You speak through the silence

Here I am, no more hiding

You are in this moment, I won’t fight it

I’ll be quiet

I’ll just be quiet

And let You speak through the silence

Here I am, no more hiding

You are in this moment, I won’t fight it

I’ll be quiet

Quiet

God, You’re here in the silence

Here I am, no more hiding

You are in this moment, I won’t fight it

I’ll be quiet