The Bible is made up of words. Words are a combination of the 26 letters in the alphabet. Words on their own are rarely used, but the way they are put together in a sentence is what gives them meaning. And words can have several different meanings; the dictionary sometimes has a long list of the ways a word can be used. 

I have always loved using dictionaries and finding the meaning of words and their origin, and I have many different ones, some I can barely lift. I use them regularly as I study the Bible to help me understand the meaning of verses that I don’t understand. My Vine’s Expository Dictionary gives me the different meaning of words used in the Bible and helps me understand what God meant by using that word in that verse. 

Recently, one of my devotionals pointed out the words “silent” and “listen” have the same six letters in them. As I thought about that, I realized they go together really well. Silent means being quiet, still, not speaking; to listen means to pay attention, to try to hear. I began thinking of how that has had meaning in my life and how it can be used in the future.

There are times with friends that I just need to listen and be silent as they go on about their life and what is happening. They don’t need me to solve their problems, or compare problems I’ve had, they just need someone to listen and let them get it all out. 

It relieves their burden to just be able to talk to someone about it. And in the times when someone is angrily ranting about something they are upset about, keeping silent prevents you from saying something you shouldn’t. 

It’s hard to take things back once they are said, and it’s better to wait and think about what was said and talk to God about it. And remember, if we do speak, to use words that heal and not words that hurt.

The most important lesson I have learned over the years – one I am still learning – is to be silent and listen to God. It isn’t always easy to do, and sometimes I just want to tell Him what’s going on and ask Him to fix it. But then I miss out on a lot. 

Proverbs 8:32-34 “Now then, my sons (daughters) listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man (woman) who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.”

That part about waiting at His doorway is hard for me some days. I just want to know what to do about things right away. But I have found that God will start answering in different ways when I am serious about asking, and I need only to be watching and waiting. 

He has used my daily devotions at times to get my attention, or a Bible verse or chapter that I am reading to give direction. He even used a church sign one time, with the sermon topic for the next Sunday, and there was my answer! Some answers seem to take a long time, but we have to remember that God may have to be working on other people before He is ready to answer our prayer.

Our job is to be alert when we are seeking God, and to be silent during our prayer time to listen for that calm voice inside or that sense of peace that we are going in the right direction. God often answers me with verses from one of my favorite Psalms. In Psalm 37:7 He once again reminds me to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” 

There, He’s done it again, reminding me to wait patiently. And no, I don’t want to look that word up! But I can be assured that whatever words God uses in the Bible are words that will enrich my life. As it says in Psalm 12:6, “The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.”

And the most important word of all, John 1:1” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

Trust in Him, and He will give you perfect understanding in His time.