By Rev. Dr. Laura Murray

Noise is not new. No matter where and when, there has been noise in our world. Noise outside ourselves and within. In this noise are voices. Voices from our past and even our present. The voice of fear of the future. True voices and false ones. Repeated voices and wounding voices.

How do we quiet all the noise and hear God’s voice?

One way is through the spiritual practices of solitude and silence. This practice gives us opportunity to make way for God’s voice in the sea of voices. It gives us opportunity to quiet, to settle, and to focus on hearing God’s voice.

Enjoy this practice as a way of giving you a framework for your time of solitude and silence. And let it be just that - a guide and framework. This means there is space to move within

and outside the guide. If you get to wandering too far, use the guide to bring you back.

General Guidelines:

• Turn off digital notifications and music.

• Inform anyone that might need to know that you will be unavailable for the next hour and a half.

• Get settled. You may need to go for a walk to move your body or clear your mind before you settle.

• This might take longer than you think. Let it come in its time and use the spiritual practices to help you. At some point in the hour choose to settle in solitude and quiet.

• Go at God’s Pace. The practices below are suggestions for making space for God tomeet and speak to you. It is not required you do them all. When the Holy Spirit nudges

  you to pause, pause. If you feel the nudge to slow down, slow down. When it is time to keep going, keep going IN WHATEVER DIRECTION the Spirit has for you. The Holy Spirit is with you and directing you!

Settling Into the Silence: Scripture Meditation

As you meditate on the Scriptures below, invite the Holy Spirit to speak truth into your life. Listen as the Spirit speaks and deepens the call to live like Jesus.

Sometimes God’s voice shows up in the words from Scripture we know, or a truth a friend has spoken. Sometimes God’s voice shows up in our emotions. Sometimes God’s voice shows up in our bodies, our shoulders lowering or tension releasing, often in our tears or deep breaths that we could never take before. However his voice shows up it is always one that brings peace and loves.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

What rest is God inviting you to enter?

Naming Our Escapes: Praying Scripture

Read this Psalm and use it as a prayer by reading it out loud and responding to the Scripture by pausing and adding your prayers.

Psalm 55:1-8, 23 (NIV)

“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. (pause and pray your desires to be heard and answered by God)

My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.

(pause and pray the attacks and suffering you are experiencing)

My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.

(pause and take as much time you need to pray honestly about your fears)

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

(pause and pray with candor the ways you long to escape and find comfort)

I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.

(pause and pray the places you find shelter other that God)

But as for me, I trust in you.”

(pause and pray for trust in God)

Amen.

Laura Murray is a spiritual director and coach as well as ministry partner of Retreat House Spirituality Center. Learn more.