SPEAK UP AND SHUT UP

When we come together as one Body under the authority of ONE Head ("prayer meeting" this was called in the old times), isn't it exciting every time again to expect the Head to communicate vital signals to the Body? (No, i am not going to mention how boring it becomes without this expectation...)
So - how best to align ourselves with Him in this corporate listening exercise?
I found two easy rules to be very helpful for myself and I keep advertising them in various Kingdom meetings: SPEAK UP and SHUT UP!

• SPEAK UP when the Spirit prompts you to say, do, or express anything of which you feel has relevance to the whole group, something that you are not intended to keep for yourself. - Some of the more introvert, shyer or quiet types among us  have to learn not to withhold from the Body the input He wants to pass on through them.
• SHUT UP not a second later than you realize that what you have said, done, or expressed is accomplished! Let me stress this with 3 "!!!" The moment you keep on talking, laying hands on, dancing or whatever after the time of inspiration has gone - you basically start domineering the scene and take away time, energy, and courage from those around you that need to be encouraged to express Him in them. Some of the more extrovert among us might want to improve on this point primarily ;)

Practically for me this means that i am keenly aware of who is expressing what throughout the time together and what red thread is unfolding under His guidance. That - as much as i watch those around me - i keep watching the promptings of my own heart and assess them as to their degree of "kairos" quality. And that i sometimes even abruptly stop my prayer even mid-word if i realize that... well i am just carrying on praying for prayer's sake to find a nice worded ending to what i started to say under inspiration in the beginning. Better to end with an open note and give room for others to fill in prophetically what was not given to me.

Just some recurrent thoughts as i wander around Christian meetings.
And yes. Of course, there is also a time for just talking freely off the heart. But our corporate prayer time should not be like that! Greetings from Copenhagen!

Comments

[Tim the Enchanter]

You make a very good point here. Social interaction comes very easily to some and not so to others. The prompting of the Spirit makes the big difference. Amazing though that those with more experience (and who should know better!) tend to dominate groups, often with good motivations maybe, but to the detrement of those who find it more difficult to contribute. Jesus had a way: do and say only what his father did, and when necessary say nothing and perhaps scribble in the sand! Or even walk around the other side of the lake to be alone.

[Sarah Rooney]

Excellent post!