(Charisma News) – I value quietness and solitude. In fact, it was in such a setting that I received the inspiration and direction for this article. It happened like this. One morning I found myself wide awake at 3 a.m. Not wanting to awaken Sue, I quietly arose and went into another room where I sat in a chair, enjoying the stillness and quietness of the early morning. As I sat, with only light from a street light streaming through the window, I thought about God and His goodness and faithfulness. At times I would voice
quiet words of praise and thanksgiving. As needs and concerns came to mind, I would present these in prayer. It was a wonderful, refreshing time. Sometimes, during those quiet hours of fellowship with God, the title and layout for this article were presented to my mind. Please do not confuse my “quiet time” with contemplative prayer. There is a world of difference. Contemplative prayer, emphasizing “silence,” has roots that go back to the mystics of the medieval Roman Catholic Church. The mystics were, in turn, profoundly influenced by Neo-Platonism, a pagan, mystical religion founded by Plotinus, a disciple of Plato. READ MORE
