“Noise”

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 NLT

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I suppose if we could see the bombardment of auditory/visual images that strike us all day it might look about like the lines above. Recognize any of the trademark slogans? Probably. Kind of like when you ask someone about a commercial or song. They might say they don’t remember until a few bars strike them. Then the words & images flow. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘sensory overload.’ Most of us in America live in a kind of sensory overload, inundated with visual images & sound waves. Even as I write this I am typing into a computer & hearing a wall of sound coming from the T.V. in the other room where the family is listening to “American Idol”. Very few quiet places in the world.

In the Census Bureau's latest Statistical Abstract of the United States, one statistic finds that Americans spent more of their lives than ever — about eight-and-a-half hours a day — watching television, using computers, listening to the radio/media, going to the movies or reading. That’s a lot of sensory overload! In all that stuff there is very little time or place to hear the ‘still, small voice’ of God. I’m not preaching at you, I find myself in the same boat as you. By nature, I’m not a quiet guy. I enjoy the arts & the noises of life. So, I HAVE to make time for God. Oddly, when I don’t stop to hear from & share with God, I realize I am unarmed & ill-equipped for the world awaiting me & tasks that I must perform each day. It’s far beyond finding a ‘center’ or ‘Zen’.

All through the years I’ve found it vitally important to strive to carve out time to connect with God. I have sought out ‘quiet places.’ Books challenge & encourage me. Music moves & inspires me. Nature stirs me. More importantly though, I stop all the noise as possible & listen to my Creator. You know it, you recognize that constant bombardment. The visual images that crash into our corneas, the wall of sounds that waylays our auditory nerves; the crisis of life that impacts our emotions. Each tugs & tears at us until we cry out ‘STOP!’

On a drive to a recent conference I shut down all the distraction, no matter how soothing & entertaining, & just talked to God & listened. In the billions of writing & tomes there is nothing like stopping & reading, praying & meditating on God’s word. There’s a reason it’s the best seller of all time.

Even when we walk with God, the Devil still slams at us. There is a passage in 1 Kings that speaks of God’s servant after a powerful, spiritual experience. In solitude he didn’t find God in the midst of a series of powerful experiences, but rather in a ‘still, small voice.’

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:11-13

Even in our search for a ‘religious experience’ we might find it more prudent to simply stop. Stop, & listen past all the noise & stuff for the still, small, gentle whisper of God. I’ve found when I don’t listen for His whisper, He finds a way to drastically catch my attention until I still myself & know that He is God.

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