A Closed Mouth and Silent Heart
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of silence and a closed mouth in prayer to truly connect with God and receive divine truth.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of silence and a closed mouth in prayer, arguing that true communion with God transcends mere requests for personal gain. He reflects on Psalm 39:3, illustrating that a hot heart often arises from a quiet spirit, and that listening is essential before speaking. Tozer warns against the tendency of modern prayer to focus on what we can 'get' from God, urging believers to seek a deeper union with Him. He concludes with a personal prayer for the discipline of silence before God, recognizing its necessity for spiritual growth.
Text
My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.... --Psalm 39:3
Prayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the "get" element mainly. How to get things we want from God occupies most of the space. Now, we gladly admit that we may ask for and receive specific gifts and benefits in answer to prayer, but we must never forget that the highest kind of prayer is never the making of requests. Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God to a place of such blessed union as makes miracles seem tame and remarkable answers to prayer appear something very far short of wonderful by comparison.
Holy men of soberer and quieter times than ours knew well the power of silence. David said, "I was dumb with silence. I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned; then spake I with my tongue." There is a tip here for God's modern prophets. The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open. A closed mouth before God and silent heart are indispensable for the reception of certain kinds of truth. No man is qualified to speak who has not first listened. The Set of the Sail, pp. 14-15
"Lord, teach me to close my mouth. I love to preach; You've given me opportunities to teach; I'm called on to dispense advice and counsel. But the sitting in silence before You, with my mouth closed--I don't do nearly enough of that. Amen."
Sermon Outline
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I
- The nature of prayer
- The danger of a self-centered approach
- The importance of seeking God over gifts
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II
- The power of silence in prayer
- Biblical examples of silence
- Listening before speaking
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III
- The role of the heart in prayer
- The connection between silence and understanding
- Preparing oneself to receive truth
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IV
- The significance of humility in prayer
- The contrast between noise and divine revelation
- Cultivating a silent heart
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V
- Practical steps to embrace silence
- The benefits of a closed mouth
- Encouragement to practice solitude
Key Quotes
“Prayer at its holiest moment is the entering into God to a place of such blessed union as makes miracles seem tame.” — A.W. Tozer
“The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open.” — A.W. Tozer
“Lord, teach me to close my mouth.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Practice sitting in silence before God to deepen your prayer life.
- Recognize the importance of listening to God's voice before speaking.
- Embrace humility in your approach to prayer and communication with God.