Silence

Why is it so hard to be silent? Why is it so hard to escape the noise of life to stop and really listen. It is in the silence that I believe we can truly hear the voice of God.

There is too much noise in this world. Auditory noise. Visual noise. I often have a hard time being alone in my house without some kind of noise in the background. I turn the TV on. I turn my music on. I listen to my voicemail. I read my email. I surf the internet. I talk on the phone.

God desires that we be still. Be still and know that He is God. Be silent.

We live in a world full of noise. Society is competing for, and often winning, our attention. Broadcasters want our attention. Advertisers want our attention. Entertainers want our attention. Politicians want our attention. Preachers want our attention.

There are troubles in the world that create noise. Earthquakes that kill thousands. Tsunami's that kill thousands. Hurricanes that kill thousands. Wars that kill thousands. In the midst of the noise we can still be still and know that God is God.

I need to practice silence more. I need to know what it means to be still.

I love Psalm 46.

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

May we learn what it means to truly be still. May we know that God is God, and learn how to listen to Him; perhaps even stop praying (talking) for a while and just be still, and listen.