Intellectual Silence and Spiritual Silence

September 10, 2008

Intellectual Silence and Spiritual Silence

Intellectual Silence and Spiritual Silence
IT IS MAN'S concept of God that makes prayer intellectual or spiritual. There is a vast
difference between mere intellectual silence and that constructive silence which always
gives the victory within the soul. The intellectual silence, which is limited in its power, is
the silence where one's whole attention is fixed on the intellect.
Herbert Spencer once said that he would gladly turn his life over to anyone who would
live it for him and relieve him of its burdens. This no doubt can be said of hundreds of
other weary ones. It reveals however the fact that man lacks the true vision of life and is
not living it as God intended. Man should lift his eyes "unto the hills, from whence
cometh" his help. He should dwell much on the truths taught by Jesus and make them a
part of his very nature.
Jesus ushered into the race consciousness a thought atmosphere that we contact in the
silence by just affirming in spirit and in truth the name "Jesus Christ." There is true magic
in this name.
When He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest," He was mentally freeing man from his many trials and
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tribulations, and leading him into the broad highway of spiritual freedom, and joy, and
abundance. To accept Jesus Christ as Saviour means to take His way of thinking and
acting and make it ours.
There is a popular teaching that just accepting Jesus Christ as one's Saviour will set into
operation a spiritual magic that will save the soul from all past and future sins. The word
"magic" implies accomplishing something with the assistance of the supernatural. We
find that in deed and in truth there is magic in adopting the way of life taught by Jesus.
But this is not mysterious to those who study the transforming power of thoughts and
words. It is all contained in the formula stated by Paul "Be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind." Instead of doubting, distrusting, and hating man, which is the
fruit of the intellect, Jesus taught us to love man with all our mind, soul, and strength.
Instead of fighting life and struggling to compete with millions of others in the same
foolish war, as the intellectual man does, Jesus taught man to co-operate. Instead of
wasting energy in tearing down, Jesus taught man to conserve his energy in building up.
Jesus does not load on man's back all the burdens of humanity; in fact He shows
humanity how to love life, how to love the Author of life, and how to love life's activities.
In this state of consciousness man automatically drops the burdens of the intellect and
enters into the freedom of real living. In the past the intellect has thought its power
supreme. But while it is a wonderful faculty, it is in truth the tool of Spirit,