Silence

'Be still and know that I am God', the psalmist writes.
Be still and know that in the silence, you can hear my voice and sense my prompting.

Silence and stillness are not the same. Silence, to a lot of people, means the absence of noise.
There is silence and silence. We all know the difference between a hostile silence and a companionable silence. The silence I am referring to is distinct from the ones mentioned above. It is a sacred silence; without noise and distractions, an inner silence with a quiet mind.
This sacred silence is not something we achieve instantly. Entering the stillness is growing our inner silence so that we may encounter the Divine Presence / God.
To experience this sacred stillness, is not dissimilar to developing a personal relationship with people; it takes practise and commitment.
Relationships are about mutuality, sharing, enjoying each other's company and getting to know the other. You will find it is the same for your experience with growing your inner stillness.

Stillness, for me, is about inner peace; the place where I may encounter the Divine Presence.
To quieten the mind is the first step to inner peace. Like a lot of things, you cannot expect to get the result you desire after one session. Time after time, you need to train your mind. To let go and breathe in and breathe out.
There are many techniques one could use; from both the Eastern and Western traditions. The Christian tradition has a variety of meditation practises, although it is not uncommon for Christian monks to practise Zen Meditation.

Ultimately, it takes practice
and more practise
to grow the inner stillness
and wait for a glimpse of the Divine Spirit.