Noise. We live in a world with a lot of it. Even as I sit here writing this, I have music playing in my ears from my headphones, but in the background I hear two other conversations, the Starbucks baristas asking each other questions and one very creaky door, not to mention Trans-Siberian Orchestra blasting through the speakers (hello, Christmas music!). There’s also the hum of the air conditioner (Florida!), the sound of a latte-on-the-way and the fast-moving traffic zooming by the window. It would be nearly impossible for me to find a moment of silence, even if I was desperately craving one.
Silence is a gift, and often we need it. But this is not about silence. It’s actually about the exact opposite. This is about listening to the Lord speak even as we’re constantly bombarded with numerous other noises and voices. There was that whisper today that told me I was weak and incapable of using my voice. Yesterday I heard the words “you’re all alone.” More days than I care to admit I used to hear the phrase “you’re unworthy of love.”
How often do we not only hear lies, but then believe them? Our hearts devise our passions, but it is our minds that develop the process that puts our passions into practice and oh, how the enemy goes after our thoughts! Sometimes we hurt each other, through words that cut deeper than the blades of 1,000 soldiers. The culture we live in also casts ideas, thoughts and “advice” that don’t bring life but instead thrust us into confusion, pain and the misbelief that we have to appear the way society wants us to or we will be unaccepted by our peers.
I want to listen to Truth. I want to listen to Love. I want to listen to Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, Life. And He is always speaking. “Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a Voice behind you, saying, ‘this is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21. He says we belong to Him; that we are loved just as we are and that He has given us purpose, value and worth. It’s not easy but grabbing ahold of our thoughts and giving them to Jesus will lead us into His declarations of freedom and redemption. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5. I want to hear the Lord. So instead of wearing earmuffs of the world, I want to wear Lord-muffs. 🙂
