Listen in silence because if your head is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God. ~ Mother Teresa
During this time of our history and present culture, I think that doing a media fast will be harder than the strictest of a food fast, or any other fast. Technology and information are everywhere we look—as close as our fingertips. ( Have you seen anyone with a mini-computer NOT in their hand lately??? )
But I believe one of the best favors we can do for ourselves, our relationship with God, and our relationships with others is to turn off the noise. Even if it’s for a day, or 1/2 a day, or even a few hours. You might be surprised at just how hard this is to do, how addicted you might be. You might also be surprised at how deeply life altering (in the best of ways) this can be.
And this fast would include reading. Yes. Even reading. It’s quiet, but it’s not silence. It is still another voice, or voices, speaking into our life and thoughts.
I am a reader. And I invite those wonderful voices into my life on a regular basis. The authors are wise friends, encouragers, and guides.
But sometimes…
Sometimes we need to set the stage in our lives for silence.
Because it is in silence that we can truly hear what needs to be heard…
the Voice of God
And it will be precisely what we need to hear at that moment.
But if we have the news blaring, music playing, the internet distracting, online games beckoning, social media inviting, and books tempting us…we will miss those intimate God-moments.
The personal ones.
The ones that become a very part of who we are, that change us, and sometimes the very course of our lives, in just the way we need change.
If we are tuning in to all those other voices ALL the time, we can end up on a trail that’s not the best one for us.
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8
The BEST pathway for our lives. He will ADVISE and COUNSEL us.
But if we are too busy and our lives are too noisy we won’t hear or see what He is saying and showing us.
Do yourself a great big favor.
Turn it all off.
Make an appointment with God.
Keep it.
And give Him your full attention.
Your eyes.
Your ears.
Your heart.
Sit in His creation. Relax. Don’t bear down and try to produce anything. Sit with Him in the silence. Go back to the basics and simplicity of looking at clouds, sunsets, trees, lakes, waterfalls, rocks, bugs, listening to birds sing.
You’ll hear that still small voice. You will.
And you’ll know His Voice because He said that we would.
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:4,5
He is our Shepherd and He will lead us on…yes… the BEST pathway for our lives.
He is our Counselor and He will advise us as no man or woman can.
Give Him the space and silence so that He can speak…and we can hear.
Note: The one Book you can take with you and read is your Bible. Because it too, is His Voice speaking. Even then, though, it would be good to read it slowly and mindfully with many pauses… many selahs…