journey onWord with us

Have you ever noticed how noisy your days are?  Riding through Amish country yesterday gave me a stark contrast to what typical days are like. It was so peaceful. There were very few cars and most stores were closed.  It seemed as if everyone was enjoying a very quiet Sunday afternoon.

Non-stop vehicles of communication have overtaken our world … and we love it. From Twitter to Facebook to our deep love of cell phones and anything technological, we have taken a major turn on the road toward eliminating the solitude of life that we so desperately need. It would be less than honest of me to say that I am not also caught up in that same traffic.  We all need a sense of quiet in our lives that tunes our ear to the Father’s voice.  Distractions (even good ones) can cause major traffic jams on the journey every believer in Christ wants to travel with the Father.

When the issues of life get really tough, we want God on “speed dial”.  Needing the Father in this way reminds me of an instance that happened many years ago, while walking my daughter into her school. As we were walking up to the front entrance, she suddenly fell and hurt her leg badly. Immediate tears and pain jarred dad into action. She wanted dad to help her right now!  My desire to protect, and make her better went into overdrive. Nobody else needed to help her … I would!

It remains important to me, even after all these years, that I was needed to calm her down and meet her needs at that moment of pain. My “father moment” begs the question, “Who else but your heavenly Father can really calm your spirit and heal your hurts?”  The noise generated by distractions in our lives so often drowns out the voice of a God who desperately wants to speak peace into our hearts.  Stop for a minute, and meditate on a verse that can give perspective to the will of the Father, and what He wants from us …

Psalm 46:10a

Be still and know that I am God;  (NIV)

Cease striving and know that I am God;  (NASB)

Step out of the traffic! Take a long loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, above everything  (MSG)

In the context of danger and turmoil, what does God say? Whether you prefer “be still” or “cease striving” the intent is clear. Do nothing. Know God. The Message paints a great visual, doesn’t it?

Take a long loving look at Me

Are you getting to know the Father better? Are you finding His peace? Or, would you admit that the distractions caused by non-stop communications are drowning out the Father’s voice? “Be still…”  “Cease striving…” The Creator of heaven and earth wants to speak peace. I believe you want to hear Him. I would suggest that it may take pulling over into the slow lane on the highway of your life!

My role is not to tell you how to grow in silence and solitude with the Father. Honest hearts will confess whether they are being distracted from His voice. He is the author of the solution, and you don’t have to look any farther than Psalm 46:10 to find His answer.

I liked driving through Amish country. It was a welcome escape from all that tends to distract me. Admittedly, it’s nice to have the technology to be in close communication, but in my travels, anything that distracts me from the Father and a quiet heart, hurts me. So I must ask you an honest question.  Are you traveling on a distracted journey? If so, step out of the traffic!