Turn Off The Noise Of The World
It all starts with the alarm going off.
Then the radio as you're getting ready.
The husband, kids, dogs, other members of the household.
The CD in your car.
The traffic noises.
The music on the store's sound system.
The sounds your phone makes for texts, calls and emails.
The constructions workers you drive past.
The television.
The birds, bugs frogs and dogs making their various sounds.
The telemarketers making your phone ring.
The knocks at the door.
You get the idea. Our day is filled with noise, no matter where we go. We're bombarded with people trying to get our attention — they want to change our opinion, sell us something or fill our minds with whatever message they have for the day. And it's never-ending noise. Unless you wear earplugs and never leave the house, you can't get away from it.
And we wonder why we're on overload all the time.
How can we expect to have peace, joy and calm in our lives when our ears are attacked from every side? How can we hear the voice of God over the soundtrack of daily living?
Jesus gives us our example repeatedly in the gospels.
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12
When He was surrounded by enemies, He went out to be alone with God. When the people were pressing in, He went to spend long hours alone with His Father. When it seemed like He was being bombarded from every side, He took it to God in prayer.
Can it really be that simple? It is just a matter of getting away and spending time in prayer?
Jesus Himself said it was.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6
Turn off the noise, get away and take it to the Lord in prayer.
Why do we make it so complicated? Think about what you do when you're driving to a house you never been to before. You're trying to concentrate and look for house numbers, so what do you do? You turn down the volume on the car radio. You don't want to miss it and drive right on by, so you get rid of that distraction for a few minutes.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35
The verse right before this one describes how busy Christ was in His early ministry. He healed many and cast out many devils — not just a few but many. So what does Jesus do immediately thereafter? He gets up early, before the noises of the day began again, and went to be alone with God.
There were many, many times when Jesus had given just about all His human body could give, and He's ready to just be still for a while. To do so, He leaves the world behind, finds a solitary spot and fellowships with God.
Our perfect example here is that we're allowed to turn off the noise of the world. It's OK to focus our attention on just one thing for a while. And it's definitely necessary to shut down and reboot in the presence of God. He expects it and delights in it. Sometimes it's the only way you're going to hear His still small voice, so He's counting on that time with you.
So when the noises of the world are pressing in, turn down the volume, find a quiet spot and listen for the voice of God. He's waiting for you.
Then the radio as you're getting ready.
The husband, kids, dogs, other members of the household.
The CD in your car.
The traffic noises.
The music on the store's sound system.
The sounds your phone makes for texts, calls and emails.
The constructions workers you drive past.
The television.
The birds, bugs frogs and dogs making their various sounds.
The telemarketers making your phone ring.
The knocks at the door.
You get the idea. Our day is filled with noise, no matter where we go. We're bombarded with people trying to get our attention — they want to change our opinion, sell us something or fill our minds with whatever message they have for the day. And it's never-ending noise. Unless you wear earplugs and never leave the house, you can't get away from it.
And we wonder why we're on overload all the time.
How can we expect to have peace, joy and calm in our lives when our ears are attacked from every side? How can we hear the voice of God over the soundtrack of daily living?
Jesus gives us our example repeatedly in the gospels.
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12
When He was surrounded by enemies, He went out to be alone with God. When the people were pressing in, He went to spend long hours alone with His Father. When it seemed like He was being bombarded from every side, He took it to God in prayer.
Can it really be that simple? It is just a matter of getting away and spending time in prayer?
Jesus Himself said it was.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6
Turn off the noise, get away and take it to the Lord in prayer.
Why do we make it so complicated? Think about what you do when you're driving to a house you never been to before. You're trying to concentrate and look for house numbers, so what do you do? You turn down the volume on the car radio. You don't want to miss it and drive right on by, so you get rid of that distraction for a few minutes.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35
The verse right before this one describes how busy Christ was in His early ministry. He healed many and cast out many devils — not just a few but many. So what does Jesus do immediately thereafter? He gets up early, before the noises of the day began again, and went to be alone with God.
There were many, many times when Jesus had given just about all His human body could give, and He's ready to just be still for a while. To do so, He leaves the world behind, finds a solitary spot and fellowships with God.
Our perfect example here is that we're allowed to turn off the noise of the world. It's OK to focus our attention on just one thing for a while. And it's definitely necessary to shut down and reboot in the presence of God. He expects it and delights in it. Sometimes it's the only way you're going to hear His still small voice, so He's counting on that time with you.
So when the noises of the world are pressing in, turn down the volume, find a quiet spot and listen for the voice of God. He's waiting for you.
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