Are you struggling to hear God’s voice? Is it impossible to see where He is at work in your life? One reason for this may be the level of noise all around you. In the last 3 decades noise and noise pollution has increased to an all time high. We have non-stop access to the sounds we seek due to a multitude of devices often small enough to carry around or even wear on our wrists. We can listen to something or hear sounds at every moment. Then there’s the daily barrage of traffic and machinery which surrounds us every day.
How does this impact our daily life? Mostly, it keeps us distracted from our personal and inner lives, drawing our attention outward and away from what is important to us; within our homes, our jobs and even in our cars. It seems we cannot even put the phone down for 30 minutes while driving to the store, to work or the doctor’s office!
In an article in Medical News Today in December 2020 entitled “What are the health effects of noise pollution”, the physical effects of this problem are discussed including increased stress levels, sleep deprivation and disruption, sensitivity to noise as well as hearing loss especially in young children. These effects lead to serious problems which in turn can affect our relationships too.
When we apply this issue of noise and distraction to our faith and prayer life, we know it is almost impossible to hear God’s voice or action in our lives when there is noise and distraction all around us. In order to BE quiet we have to MAKE life quiet so that we can hear the still small voice of God [1 Kings 19:12] and see His action in our daily lives.
The first thing I did in my own life to start this practice was to turn off the radio in my car while driving short distances. Next I began keeping my home quiet for parts of the day. Now, I love to play music as much as the next person – it uplifts me and brings me joy, so it was a sacrifice – but I found that purposefully keeping silence as part of my daily life, I could hear God, feel His presence and gain more of the peace I’ve discussed here previously.
Jesus Himself practiced this. He often went off to pray and meditate by Himself in quiet solitude the result of which was gaining strength for what came next or the ability to perform miraculous healings and to teach God’s wisdom to His disciples. Even Jesus needed quiet and silence to listen and hear God’s voice. This was part of His humanity; despite being God, as a person in human form, He had to practice this human action to hear what His Father wanted to say to Him. If we want that same guidance, affirmation and certainty of God’s love, we need to follow Jesus’ lead.
So, I challenge you to turn off the noise for a period of time during your day: TV, radio, phone, etc. Try it for a week and see what you notice. Try it for 21 days to make it a habit and, as you get used to the silence, start listening for that whisper from God. Pray and ask Him to speak to you. It may be quiet at first, but after a time you will know exactly when He is speaking.
Let me know the results – I’d love to hear how it turns out. I encourage you to share this idea with the people in your life so that, they too, can benefit from turning off the noise.
“but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray”
Luke 5:16
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray”
Matthew 26:36
In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12
Peace & Blessings,
Linda