How Drowning Out the Noise Can Help You Find God
Have you ever had a neighbor that had you convinced they were addicted to noise? I’m pretty sure I do. Even as I type this, I can hear a family of circus elephants playing basketball while tap dancing! (Here's a funny video about your upstairs neighbors!)To focus on anything while at home, I have had to learn how to choose what I hear. The truth is, the dog upstairs is always barking. The children are almost always bowling in tap shoes, and there are typically 2-3 people standing outside my window chatting the night away. So, to get anything done (including writing this post), I have to choose what to listen to at that moment.
Our relationships with God works in the same way.
We have to constantly be intentional about drowning out the noise of the distractions around us to hear the voice of God. Life is boisterous. Even sitting in silence usually means sitting and listening to the hum of electronics, the cars pass by, and people outside. But the more often we take time to sit and listen, truly listen, to His voice, the easier it will become to hear Him.
Related Post: Being Still – The Key to Overcoming Overwhelm
Think of it much like changing the radio station. Chances are, you have your favorite stations saved as presets in your car. But if you turn the dial one notch to the right or left, the clarity will suffer. If you turn the dial two or three notches, it gets harder and harder to understand the station. You can hear the music, you know that it is there and transmitting, but you can’t quite make it out.It takes consistent intentionality to be constantly aware of the presence of God. He is always with us. But can you always hear Him? I know that I can’t. Many times the voice of God is drowned out by my environment. Sometimes that is work, TV, or people. And sometimes it is even worship music. There are many moments when I feel Jesus urging me to sit and listen.
It takes consistent intentionality to be constantly aware of the presence of God.
When we are hungry, we feel hunger pains. When we are thirsty, our throats feel dry. And when our spirits are hungry, we feel disoriented. Our spirits do not scream at us as loudly when we need time with Jesus – instead, we start to feel unclear about our future and purpose.
"I have written to you, young people, because the voice of God remains and is heard among you. Remember that you have conquered the evil one." - 1 John 2:14 (The Voice)
"The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic." Psalm 29:3-4 (NIV)
Are you feeling confused about an area of your life? Are you facing a big decision or major crossroads? If so, I encourage you to make some space in your day to sit in the quiet with Jesus. Meet Him there and listen. Allow yourself to soak in His presence, drown out your distractions and choose to hear His voice.