Hearing God's Voice
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Between the roar of rush hour traffic, the buzz of airplanes overhead and the constant ringing of the telephone, it's amazing that we can hear our own thoughts—much less the voice of God when He calls out to us.
Tonight at church we started a New Series called "White Noise." It really ministered to me since I do have all these things going on in my life and I am always trying to step up the pace a notch, to accomplish a little more, to be able to lay my head down on the pillow at night and as I collect my thoughts for the day, I can list the things I accomplished, the things I learned and know I gave it my all.
Then I begin to thank Him for being there, for all the blessings, all the mercy and grace He has shown me, for my family, my friends, our leaders and for the things I take for granted. I try to make the time right before I go to sleep be a time of recognizing what I have been given and what I should be thankful for.
Now undoubtably as I began to think upon the Lord that is when the white noise starts. All these voices entering my mind at once. I have to continually say, Lord, forgive me, I was just talking to you and trying to spend time with you when my mind just drifted off to a million other things. I will get back on track and it will happen again, over and over. I end up apologizing to God and asking Him to forgive me several times in my prayers.
I was wondering, do you have White Noise when you pray, or when you are at Church. It seems to me that is the time I really notice it. So today the sermon was right on for me. I was glad I wasn't the only one who drifts off and is thinking about what I need to pick up at the Grocery store or did the dogs get fed or I need to get the oil changed in the car. None of those things are eternal, and I am trying to communicate and have a conversation with my Creator, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He deserves my undivided attention, but it seems I have a hard time blocking all these other things out, so I can hear the only voice that matters...the Voice of the living God.
So do you have problems when you go before the Throne of God? Do you have white noise? I was so glad to find out I am not the only one who struggles with clearing my mind and spending time with Him uninterrupted. And if you do, how do you cope with it? Is there a secret to blocking it out?
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 2:20 AM
11 Comments:
I think that everyone struggles with that, and because I think that's the devils way of trying to keep you away from obtaining a deep relationship with god. Like you said it's always when we are trying to dig in deeper that we get that "white noise". I still haven't mastered the art of blocking it out.
A friend and co-worker once told me a story about kneeling at her bedside praying at night. As she knelt in prayer before a night of sleep the mattress kept getting bumped – hard. She finally raised her head and scolded her husband, “ I’m praying and I DON’T appreciate this !”
Her husband's response woke her up. He said , “ NO, you were snoring.”
Satan HATES it when we pray. He uses many devices – accusing and damning thoughts, white noise, distractions , etc. The good news is that as a child of God, YOU are in control. Your weapon is to quote scripture(s) in a back attcha. YOU are in control.
Excellent post. I think we all experience white noise or distractions. I think that may be why we were commanded to seek out a quiet place with privacy to pray, so that we can clear our heads and focus.
I struggle just the same!
This post really “spoke” to me. I struggle with the exact same thing. I too am always asking for forgiveness for letting myself get so distracted. A friend of mine once told me to imagine Jesus sitting right next to me on the bed, and talk to him just like you would if a live person were sitting there. That has helped me stay more focused.
White noise--yes. My pastor did an excellent series on prayer a while back, and even suggested that we pray out loud. I started doing that. It felt so silly at first, but then seemed more natural. And it cut the white noise. I have been teaching my son about showing respect for God and not getting distracted in the middle of a conversation with Him. It's difficult no matter how old we are!
YES! I have that happen to me all the time. I find that it helps me to speak, not just say it in my head. Something about hearing myself praying helps me to focus.
We all struggle with "white noise." The more we try to blot it out, the more we have to struggle with it.
In the end, it is a matter of focus and allowing the Holy Spirit to have complete control. Tough to do, though
I like what Joe said, "allowing the Holy Spirit to have complete control." That's tough! Seems impossible? I spent most of my Christian life confused about the "voice of God," but Blackaby's book Experiencing God was a break-through for me.
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Great post. I appreciate your honesty. Yes, I have experienced the challenge of a cluttered mind when communicating with God. But I have learned that He communicates when He desires; we must always be sensitive enough to know when to listen. I am very careful not to get into a ritual with God; at first, I thought it was necessary to kneel down at a particular time each day and pray; I discovered that I am then putting God in this little compartment in my life. He created me; He owns me. It is my job to yield to Him; not for Him to yield to me. He does the work; I am simply a vessel. Paul admonished us to pray without ceasing; this implies living a life of prayer. By the way, I have posted on my blog again. Please feel free to visit and share your thoughts.
White Noise, Black Noise, all kinds of noise... I hear it to. I normally try to sing a mental song that gets me in a prayerful mindset. I think that is the purpose of praise and worship, it gets us ready to speak to God and to listen.
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