What do we do with all this chatter? There are so many people talking, so many podcasts, so many television analysts, and so many people on social media. These people have platforms on which they're building a huge number of followers. What do we do when the noise is so loud and many opinions exist? What do we do? We could call up into a corner and shut it all down; that way, we feel we can hear God. But many times, it's in the noise that things can even become more focused and more productive.
How Can We Hear God's Voice through the Noise?
For instance, a basketball team is playing, and the arena is loud, but they're still trying to execute the plays. They're still trying to function productively, making them even more disciplined in getting things done.
A loud football stadium has 65,000 people shouting and screaming, but they have to execute a play. They have to figure out how to hike the ball when they can't use verbal signals to make that happen simply because maybe people wouldn't hear when they're way across the field. People become more efficient in the noise to learn to listen even better. I challenge you: When the noise is loud, learn to listen to God.
When the Spirit of God guides us, we deposit the Word of God, illuminating it when we study it, read it, and choose to practice it. We learn to listen to God because he brings the words back to our remembrance, as the Bible said he would do in John 14:26. He would guide us into what's real and true.
"But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." - John 14:26
What are the facts? What do we need to look at? When we practice the Word of God, he helps us with discernment. The key thing is to download the playbook. So that when the noise is loud, the Spirit of God is even more effective in ministering to your life through the conviction of sin.
"But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged." - John 16:7-11
How Do We Know it's God's Voice?
The Spirit of God speaks to us so that we can hear and understand God's Word when we deposit it into our hearts and minds. 'Heart' means that we practice listening to and intend to obey God's Word.
God transforms our lives so that we no longer conform to any of the things taking place in the world. Think about the noise in the book of Hebrews when you look at the list of people called the Hall of Hope, not just the Hall of Faith because they expected God to do certain things. They kept obeying God because they expected him to fulfill his Word.
Hebrews says that it is impossible for God to lie. He is the truth. Jesus Christ is the truth.
"So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us." - Hebrews 6:18
He doesn't just tell the truth. He is the truth.
When it was loud, and David's brothers were laughing at him, he still heard God's command to go to Goliath because he was listening for God's voice. He was tuned in to the Father. When it was loud, and people were at the Red Sea screaming at Moses, Moses could still obediently take the stick and strike the ground to part the waters because he could still hear God. So many times, we become more efficient and effective when things are loud, and we bury ourselves in that commitment to study God's Word, to practice God's Word, to learn God's Word, and to be committed to dealing with sin issues that it sometimes exposes.
He who is within us, both to will and to do for God's purposes, will bless us to work out our salvation in fear and tremble. Stay focused.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez
