Turn Down the Volume

When I watch television, I tend to crank up the volume a little higher than necessary.  Before long, my wife—sitting across the room—will say, “Turn down the volume, it’s too loud.”  Now that she has hearing aids, I hear that comment even more often.  I’m sure I’ll break the habit one day.

When we were raising teenage children, the house was often filled with loud music coming from their rooms.  It felt like an ongoing battle between parent and child over what level of volume was acceptable.

These memories remind me of the excess “noise” that surrounds us every day—too much television, endless web browsing, hobbies, and other distractions.  I call these things noise—not always audible, but loud just the same.  They are time-stealers that keep us from hearing the voice of God when He speaks.

Scripture tells us in 1 Kings 19:11-12 that God was not in the powerful wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire—but in a gentle whisper.  The noise of the world can easily drown out that whisper.  We need to practice turning down the volume of our lives so we can listen more intently.

How can God provide direction if we are always busy and never truly listening?

Psalm 37:23 reminds us, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”  God desires for us to live an abundant life and ultimately find our home with Him—but we must be willing to listen.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Perhaps today is a good time to pause, quiet the distractions, and listen.  Even a few moments of stillness can make a difference.

Just as we adjust the volume on a television, we must learn to adjust the volume of our lives—turning down the distractions so we can hear God’s still, small voice.

Written by,

Papa Boyd