Why is silence so hard to deal with? silence
100’s of millions of people are regularly exposed to noise levels that are in the pollution range noise
do you have a cell phone? do you have a pager? do you have voic ? a cell phone with voice and ?
Do you have a TV? More than one TV?
The radio on all day? On at work, in the car and at home?
Is there such a thing as visual noise? noise
Do we really need more billboards alongside the roads we drive on?
Do you feel that God is distant? distant
Do you wish that God’s voice was louder in your life? louder
Do you see any connection between the noise in our lives and our inability to hear God? noise
Many cars now come with separate CD and DVD systems for the passengers.
Have you noticed how many people going to and from work are listening to MP3 players and Ipods?
Try this
Slowly
Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, “Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. Deut 27:9 silentlisten
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Ps 4:4 silent
But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. Habbakuk 2:20 silent
Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. - Jesus in Matthew 11 rest
Be still and know that I am God Ps 46:10 still
If I am not still and don’t listen how is Jesus going to speak to me? still
We spend so much time worrying and talking about our problems – how much time do we spend listening to God about them?
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 withdrew
These were regular disciplines Jesus had: silence solitude
When last were you in a solitary place? solitary
Why is it so hard to be silent? silent
It is easier to surround ourselves with noise than to be silent and listen noise silent listen
Does my schedule, time and life reflect listening to God?
One more conversation Perhaps your need for healing and guidance will not come from One more seminar One more sermon One more self-help book
But from listening
really Do you really believe that God’s voice is more interesting than the many voices in your life? voices
Have you been searching for God’s voice in the fire in the earthquake in the wind
when God has been waiting to speak to you in the sound of sheer silence
the only way a boat can sink is if sufficient water gets into the hull
is noise flooding in? sinking you?
noise silence sheer silence God