As any parent will tell you, silence is rare and golden. I am not saying that I don’t enjoy my kids because I do, but I also enjoy waking up and having a few quiet minutes before being “mom.” Sometimes though it doesn’t happen and I have had to learn to carve out quiet time elsewhere. Why you may ask, is this such a big deal?

I have been doing a study of 2 Timothy (which I highly recommend) and this is what God has impressed on my heart over the last several weeks: God has called me for a purpose (2 Tim. 2:21). I will lose sight of that purpose or miss when God calls me to do specific things within this calling if I do not guard this calling with the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 1:14).

He can not correct, guide, and empower me if I am not taking time to listen; stop the inner dialog, and focus on the higher dialogue. Ideally, this happens in those early moments but sometimes it happens after dropping off a kid at their activity, watering my flowers, or cooking dinner.

This is when God confirms my calling to love my students the way He loves them, this is when he shows me how to make decisions like Him. This is when he renews my passion to help others “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10.) This is when my heart can cry “Abba, Father,” otherwise translated as the irreverent “Dad” instead of Lord (Romans 8:15).

I encourage you to find silence to listen to Dad. He has a calling on your life too (2 Tim. 2:21). I would love to hear what that calling is and how you guard this calling in your life.

2 Timothy 1:14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.