Rediscovering Prayer

by Addison Bevere

Separator Words with God by Addison Bevere
Can You Sit in Silence with God?

“We do not know each other yet. We have not yet dared to be silent together.”
– Maurice Maeterlinck

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to just be silent with someone you know? 

In a world where noise is currency and sanity is often traded for frantic inaction, there’s an unspoken pressure to contribute to the sound. Silence and stillness feel lazy and irresponsible, so we go on adding noise to noise, never truly understanding what we say, why we say it, and who we’re saying it to. 

“We do not know each other yet. We have not yet dared to be silent together.”

Most of us know that when a loved one is navigating profound pain or loss, our presence speaks louder than anything we could say. If we can find the courage to first sit in their silence, our words, tears, and groans find their harmony, creating an authentic sound of intimate connection. It takes no small measure of bravery, though, to let go of clichés and let silence do its best work. 

I’ve found that we often view prayer as the act of finding the right words, but the majority of our prayer life flourishes in the thin silence—that place where we can listen for the sounds of God’s constant presence . . . for how else could we pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17)? There is an active prayer that is less about speaking and more about learning to be wooed by the One who speaks in both silence and sound.

Response

When was the last time you just sat with God in silence? No words. No distractions. No noise. If we’re honest, we’ll admit that there are silent moments throughout our day, but we yield to the pressure and fill them with noise. Silence is a regular companion whose presence is often ignored. This week, ask the Spirit to show you such moments. It may feel awkward and unfamiliar at first but don’t shrink back. I promise that God will eventually meet you there.

Closing Thoughts

Stillness and silence are my surrender.
In defiant obedience I offer them to you.

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Maybe you’ve been looking for the right words—words for a season, a loved one, a situation. Could it be that you have yet to hear what God is speaking because you are lost in the noise? No matter how hard we try, some words only take shape in silence. Why not let the silence find its sound in you?

Praying with you

Addison

Separator Words with God by Addison Bevere

P.S. I spend a good amount of time in Words with God working through this dimension of prayer. In fact, the first two chapters are “The Voice” and “Into Silence.” If you struggle to hear God’s voice or embrace the silence, then click here to get your book. It’s available as a physical book, audiobook, or eBook. (And it’s also in Spanish!)

The Invitation

At the beginning of most weeks, I share a short prayer guide, offering words and practices that will help you see, hear, and experience more of God in your daily life. I’d love for you to join us.

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The Entries

The Promise Hidden in Your Trials

Did you catch the promise couched in the prayer? While trials and temptation are inevitable, so is our victory. Whether it be now or then, every problem has an end date. Every pain will be swallowed up in joy. Every broken part of us will be healed and restored.

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How to Break Free from the Trap of Self-Focus

When you pray this week, begin by meditating on God’s holiness, His love, His tenderness, His faithfulness. Think of this as a holy inhale—you’re breathing in God’s Life and breathing out the temptation to make yourself (or your concerns) god over your life. (And please read Romans 8:5–8, specifically in The Message.)

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Praying Like This Will Transform Your Year

You’ll notice the prayer begins by placing our attention on God, the One who inhabits the heavens, the One who upholds all things by the word of His power. Once we’re settled in His tender holiness and the surety of His will, we then move into our requests, our fears, our trials, our pains. They all have a place in our prayers, and I encourage you to make each line specific to you, the people in your world, the cares of your day, and trials in your way.

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Addison Bevere is the COO of Messenger International, a ministry founded by John and Lisa Bevere in 1990 that exists to develop uncompromising followers of Christ who transform our world. Messenger is dedicated to providing people with access to life-transforming messages regardless of their location, language, or financial position.

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Addison Bevere

Husband, father, author, poet, speaker & follower of Christ

addison-thumbnail-2021
Addison Bevere

Husband, father, author, poet, speaker & follower of Christ

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