Some voices invite you to rest, others lure you towards exhaustion.
Recently, I heard a pastor addressing a concern that some people have with solitude— a spiritual practice that includes sitting in silence before God.
“What if you hear the voice of Satan?”
To be sure, none of us wants to hear the voice belonging to one also referred to as the “accuser” and “father of lies”, but surely awareness of that voice is better than ignoring it through noise and distraction
Especially when noise and distraction are favorite tools of his.
Also especially when our silence makes more clear the voice of God—the only voice that can silence the enemy voice.
Pastor Shigematsu1 said it well in a recent podcast I listened to:
“God’s voice convicts us and draws us to himself. Satan’s voice condemns us and drives us away.”
Pastor Shigematsu continued by describing the impact of these voices on our lives as a way of helping us discern who is who:
“God’s voice tends to still you, whereas Satan’s voice tends to rush you… Satan’s voice frightens you.
God’s voice enlightens you. Satan’s voice confuses you.
God’s voice encourages you. Satan’s voice discourages you.
God’s voice comforts you, Satan’s voice worries you.
And God’s voice calms you. And Satan’s voice obsesses you.”
Surely the best invitation to rest comes from God himself.
May your rest be sweet.
Alicia
From Rule of Life: Solitude 04: Encountering Our Enemies with Ken Shigematsu, Oct 5, 2023