Once upon a time, I could talk a plenty. The thing is that I had this phobia for awkward silence, so I always filled in the gap. Yes, I did fill in the silent spaces with just anything, most times with just the most awkward things for the most awkward silence- I know I am talking almost gibberish but you can manage , lol! Other times I just liked to talk because I enjoyed it a lot, hearing myself talk, talk, talk again, get tired and feel guilty later too, lol. You know, one of the deepest forms of worship is fighting for approval, and whosoever’s approval that I seek the most is who I love the most, and whosoever that I love the most is who I worship. The funny thing about seeking man’s applauds is that you don’t worship the man whose applause you sought but you get the applause or want the applause while singing your own praise, giving glory, worship, and honor to your own very self. Most of the times when I talk too much, listening to nobody and nothing else but my own voice, ceasing every piece of a conversation, talking and suggesting myself hoping to get admiration, I merely worship myself. And that very approval of man I never end up getting. Most of the time I am left empty, feeling exhausted for trying so hard and of course getting little because self-worship brings about more worship of self. The emptiness felt is the void created by the sin of idolatry- All glory must go to God. Worship is talking less of self, and more of God. Worship is listening carefully to the words of men just to hear the voice of God lingering and caressing my ears, learning more, talking more again of God at every opportunity and whenever myself is mentioned, it is just to confess allegiance to the King of Kings. That is worship. But why do I keep learning these truths and at every chance I talk with man I see self-worship again? The natural man wants to be like God, I guess. The only time that man can ever and even give me applause is when I have forgotten how to seek their applause because I am busy caring about the validation of Yahweh. This is the time that I really forget about myself and every other man. I can never hear God’s voice in my conversations when I am not busy listening and listening and listening again. When I am busy talking and talking and talking again, I will not know and enjoy the comfort of hearing God’s sweet voice even from the very worst man.
Listening is one way to enjoy the finer things of life. Listeners look more beautiful than talkers- they are not under stress. Listen, and test, and search, and enjoy and listen again. Forget to speak, that is worship and worship is refreshing. “But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. “ God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”- John 4:23-24 (NKJV). Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God –this is your spiritual act of worship.
–Romans 12:1 (NIV)

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. -James 1:19(NKJV).

By Favour Omeje, 2016