The Ministry of Quiet Living

Humility, Waiting and Godliness; these words gather among the great Christian words, capturing the essence and produce of a life lived before the face of the Father.
The people of the Lord are regarded and positioned as guardians and practitioners of the rare art of waiting. Their duty and final joy is to serve by giving away the most precious item, for which they have been set apart as custodians, giving away the most precious item, the only item they own and have the possibility to spend namely time itself, a life, months and years to be invested, invested in worship.

The praying community, a nation set apart from among nations, set apart for the sake of communion. The praying community, set apart to become the community of the cross of Christ. This intimate gathering, closely attached to matters of the cross, holds a key role in the work of putting man to final rest. Theirs is an overcoming which brings rest and which is brought in as a mighty weapon of God against man’s efforts to overcome and win the battle for life which reflects the hectic, pressurising procedures and technicalities of the natural life.

One man named Simon stands for ever as a marker in the ways of the Ministry of Quiet Living. He belonged to the company of committed, who had wisely learnt the art of waiting on God. This man was looking for the consolation of Israel, he waited for the one would comfort Israel, waiting anxiously, looking for God to console and to comfort. And he did not miss the mark, perfectly on time, time redeemed to the uttermost simply because of quietness and patience.

Ours is the role of waiting for God. Ours is the role of quiet living. The title of old Simon and his friends is perfectly applicable to intercessors of the twenty-first century. Our role is one and the same as theirs, to live peacefully in the earth and therefore called the Quiet ones in the Earth. We are set apart to pray, thereby creating quiet living with godliness and gravity.

The strategic measurements of this Ministry of Quiet Living begin by rest, continue in waiting and end gloriously in tranquillity. The strategic measurements of this Ministry of Quiet Living include adherence to His voice, Seek my face; it adds a continuous seeking for His wisdom and a dwelling day and night in meditation on His works and statutes. This ministry is service, a servant’s steadfast waiting on the Lord. Its strength is its helplessness. Its pride is its humility. Its glory is obvious in its lack of self-appraisal. Its impact is permanent because of its silence.

Let us order our efforts and duties in prayer according to the patterns of this ministry. . .

Lars Widerberg

The inward journey # 01

Your words may have little or no impact on external levels, on Earth; why not direct your voice towards Heaven? Plain man’s words seldom reach listening ears on Earth; Heaven might find a way to use them.

Why try to touch or confront that which is temporal, even ephemeral, when the fact remains irrevocably clear that you are intended for a life silently aligned with what is of Eternity.

Words, words of prayer, which captures the Father’s ear, and which therefore will have its effect on Earth, reformed and crystallized into a heavenly work, words of this kind finds form and takes on a peculiar quality during an inward journey. Prayer and intercession which will be greeted by heavenly approval takes shape and finds its full weight as the saint follows inner paths of worship and fellowship.

The mind which finds its joy and satisfaction in temporal quantity, in external form and fascination, in impressing pursuits and exploits produces few words which enter heavenly quarters in which books are written and prayer answers are prepared.
The roving, the wandering heart has no voice, no voice which can make itself heard in heavenly courts.

The heart which adheres to discipline and welcomes its tranquillity and mastery, orders solid ground for prayer and intercession.

Walking according to external patterns and modes opens for a futile, never-ending, wrestling match aiming at securing power and position. The “Quiet in the Land” never raise their voice to conquer clamour and uproar. The inward journey includes a waiting before the Lord who shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people.

Hanna, picturing the intercessor, speaks in her heart but the blind priest eagerly looks for appropriate behaviour conformed and applied to the rule of the day. She gives her soul away as a spiritual sacrifice. She empties herself of everything belonging to routine and tradition, to be able to win the battle in the interior.

The Quiet in the Land, men and women of prayer, walks along roads worthy a King and they find the chambers of the inner life made ready for worship as the Spirit of supplication supplies pregnant stillness as well as words which finds a heavenly ear ever ready to hear.

Lars Widerberg