Do You Hear What I Hear?

Welcome back to Faith Connections Friday! We focus on connecting a life of pursuing excellence with faith.

Distractions abound. Society, culture, and commitments demand our attention. We hear so many voices and have so many choices, we easily get confused as to which is correct.

With all that surrounds you, how do you take time to relax? A cup of coffee or tea. A few moments to sit outside or take a walk and enjoy nature. A nice, long, warm shower. An enjoyable book or movie. What do these have in common? A break. A time to step away from our lives and just stop. We are designed to practice solitude. Quiet.

One of the stories in Scripture that intrigues me is that of hearing a still, small voice, which immediately followed a time of chaos (1 Kings 19). The lesson: We have to take time to be still and wait so we can hear it.

Being idle is tough and can be dangerous. We feel guilty if we stop and not do anything. We feel we are not productive and wasting time. The remedy? We can actively listen. How? If you are in a time of chaos, find a way to help you relax so you can be still. Listen for that still, small voice.

We can measure if it is the right voice by comparing it with Scripture. Does it rightly align with Scripture? What do you let into your mind? Are they words of truth or lies?

The way you compare what you hear with Scripture is by knowing Scripture. For example, if you handle money, examine, study, and know the real thing to such a level that recognizing a counterfeit is easy. Same principle. Examine, study, and know the truth so intimately that you easily recognize a lie.

This involves our personal determination and diligent search. We are to be fully equipped by knowing the Word of God thoroughly. The proper tools for this search include Bible study and prayer.

The Master Teacher, of course, is the Holy Spirit. He teaches us how to discern the right voice and instructs how to properly hear. There is also the aspect of learning with another person. Though getting to know the Word is deeply personal, there is the aspect of learning with another person of like faith and similar spiritual maturity. They can provide wisdom from their own spiritual walk to help you grow.

So, in order to recognize the right voice, do you want to embark on the quest to hear in the quiet? The still, small voice. I know that as you move with determination and focus, you will find that it does truly satisfy. It will be all that you hope and more. The cost? Priceless.

As you go about your daily life, you discover that He is our quiet quest. If you do not have a relationship with the Lord, I encourage you to search for Him diligently with all your heart. He has promised that if you seek Him, you will find Him.

Our Faith Connections Challenge for this week: Take a few minutes of each day and practice solitude and quiet. Try one of the suggestions to help you relax. Read portions of the Holy Bible as you begin your journey (the Book of John is a good starting place). Enjoy your journey!

Lord, I thank You for this precious one seeking You. I know that as they seek You, You will be found. I pray You speak to them in the quiet moments so they hear Your voice alone. In Your name I pray, Amen.