Isaiah 55:3 says "Give ear and come to me; hear me, and your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you".

In all the busyness of our lives, we often forget the importance of listening. We go about our chores, half listening to the children and giving half hearted responses. We go about our lives, overlooking the promptings of our inner world. It is really important to learn to listen to our inner self. That is the real part of us, which will guide us into wise and creative choices. God speaks to our inner selves . He is that inner voice which reminds us the best way to take.

But that still small voice doesn't shout. God doesn't change because we are busy and rushing about from one activity to another. God is longing for us to come to Him, to give Him our full attention and build a love relationship with Him. He will talk when we are quiet and still.

This week I attended a Taize Prayer evening where we sat in silence for a long period. God's presence was never so real, His voice so easy to discern. God's voice always encourages us too, with affirmations and sincerity.

Next week I am going along with a friend to watch the movie "Into Great Silence". This film takes the viwer into a world of silence, where a group of Carthusian Monks live in the Swiss Alps. I am eagerly awaiting three hours of silence as I enter this cinema to experience the movie. I expect that God will speak to me in His still, small voice, as I give Him increasing opportunities to do so.

The more time I spend in silence, the more I learn to discern the voice of God. The more I learn about myself. And the more I learn that love really does rule the world.

I encourage all of us to spend more time in quality silence. It is good for our soul. God is able to create His loving relationship with us as we do, and so fulfill the words of the scripture above.

(C). 2007. Christine M. Jones. (C). Droplets from Life: http://www.dropletsfromlife.blogspot.com