Silence First

The Lord is in his holy temple; let the whole earth be silent in his presence. —Habakkuk 2:20

Silence is good for us. We listen best when we talk least.

Being silent in the presence of another person means that we want to hear what they have to say. Silence also gives room for reflection, for taking in the significance of what we are hear- ing. And when God is the One speaking, we are rightly reluctant to clutter the moment with careless words.

Habakkuk found himself in such a moment with God. Obviously, this was not a meeting of equals. Habakkuk did pray but not until he had first listened. In this way, the prophet’s prayer was an informed prayer, a worshipful prayer of trustful surrender.

Like Habakkuk, in order to know how to pray, we need to get God’s perspective first, asking, “God, how do You see things? What is Your will? What will please You?” This way when we pray we are linking arms with God and His kingdom purposes. This is what it is to pray according to the will of God.