When is the last time you experienced quiet and the absence of potential distraction? If you’re like most Americans, probably not very recently.
Scientists use the phrase “ambient noise level” to define sound pressure at a given location. Sound pressure is measured in decibels. In the wilderness, you might experience an ambient noise level of 30 to 45 decibels. In contrast, many urban areas have an ambient noise level of 85 to 90 decibels. That’s just the background noise. To that, one must add the ringing of cell phones, the volume of the television, radio or iPod, and any other noise that you or others near you might be making. We live in a noisy world surrounded by different messages competing for our attention. Often it is the loudest, most frequent, or most dramatic message which arrests our attention and shapes our worldview.
As often as not, these messages seek to manipulate us into buying a certain product or buying into a certain world-view. Some are irrelevant, some annoying, some frightening, and some harmful. Most do little to further spiritual growth or nurture our relationship with Christ. Even the greatest of prophets of a more quiet past needed times of silence and freedom from distraction to hear the still, small voice of God.
Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19: 12-13)
As Lent continues during March, now might be a good time to consider setting aside a few moments each day to spend with God. During this time you may wish to…
- read the Bible
- reflect on what messages are shaping your life
- focus on aspects of your life for which you are thankful
- ponder where and how you sensed God’s presence in your life of that of others
- consider changes might you make in your life to be a better follower of Jesus, or simply heed the wisdom of Psalm 46, verse 10
“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”
– Pastor Derek French