A Satisfied Soul has "Spacious Encounters with God" - Stephen Macchia

From the book, God Calling. Part of today's reading:

"Discourage too much talk. Deeds live, and re-echo down the ages -- words perish. As Paul: Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, . . . And have not charity, I am nothing....

Remember that rarely to the human heart do I speak in words. Man will see Me in My works done through you, meet Me in the atmosphere of Love and self-effacement. Do not feel that you have to speak.

When man ceased to commune with his God simply and naturally, he took refuge in words—words. Babel resulted. Then God wanted to do away with man from the earth. Rely less on words. Always remember that speech is of the senses. So make it your servant, never your Master."

"And that ye study to be quiet." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Even when we pray, do we speak all the time? Do we pause or even stop to wait, to listen for God? The book God Calling is from two women, two listeners, who prayed and then listened for direction from Jesus. They wrote down what they heard. They were blessed. They prayed and listened. As we pray, do we talk to God, which is good, or listen for God, which may be better?

God is patient. He may not interrupt our prayers unless He has to. He will wait for a pause, a biblical selah, in the conversation. Do we do this with our friends? Wait for them to finish speaking before we talk? Or do we interrupt with our "insight" or remembrances? God is a patient, better friend than I am. He waits for me to stop talking before He speaks.

Pray for me that I stop talking, chatting incessantly, and that I pause and quiet my soul and listen for Him.

"But these times are not times when you ask to be shown and led, they are times of feeling and realizing My Presence. Does the branch continually ask the Vine to supply it with sap, to show it in what direction to grow? No, that comes naturally from the very union with the Vine, and I said, "I am the true vine, ye are the branches."

The quote in the title is from Stephen Macchia, Founder and President of LeadershipTransformations.org