When I spend 30 minutes reading the Bible and am not impacted, inspired, convicted, or touched in some way…the problem isn’t the Bible. It’s me.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

“See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.”  Hebrews 12:25

Am I taking time to quiet my thoughts and listen for Him? Am I taking time to listen to His Word in a way that I can concentrate on it?

God’s Word never returns void. It is active and sharper than a two-edged sword. When I spend 30 minutes listening to a Bible app reading of the book of Micah and am not impacted, inspired, convicted, or touched in some way…the problem isn’t the Bible. It’s me.

And I have been there. 

There have been times that I've been too tired, too angry, too anxious, or too bored to allow His Word to pierce my soul. But His Word was and is never the problem...I am.

Now, I hope that you don’t hear this in a way that sounds like I have all the answers, because I don’t.

But what I DO know is what scripture says.

And I DO know my own heart, and my own excuses.

And I know that just because I don’t always know how to do it doesn’t mean that it isn’t what God asks of me.

A couple of years ago I drove to Texas by myself over three days. My intent was to meander down, taking my time, and really be present to God, myself, and other opportunities that might arise. I had decided that I would listen to music a certain amount of time in the car, podcasts for a certain amount of time, and then have an equal amount of time set aside to sit in silence.

I thought I would love the silent part. At the time I had three kids living at home, and teens in and out of my house all day, every day. My life was one chaotic moment after another and the thought of being alone and quiet for any amount of time seemed like a little slice of heavenly pie.

It. Was. Awful.

The first 30 or so minutes were okay. My mind thought about things I needed to plan, made lists in my head, and stuff like that. But eventually those things quieted, and I burst into tears. I had no earthly idea why or what was going on. I had to pull over and pull myself together. 

As I continued this pattern for three days, I finally came to the realization that I use noise…even good noise…as a coping mechanism.

Now, I already knew I did this to some extent because when I get angry or sad the most common thing I will do to calm down is to drive around with certain music blaring on my radio.

I have three songs that I listen to over and over. They have a strong beat and there is something about that beat that seems to help. My neighbor always jokes that he can tell what kind of mood I’m in when I drive up depending on how loud my music is.

So, I was aware that I used noise in this way. But what I wasn’t aware of was that I also used “good” noise.

I had no idea that it would be so difficult to be in silence. To be enveloped by the quietness of the moment.

And I don’t think I’m alone in this.

Do you have time where you allow yourself to sit in silence? Not just turning off stressful noise like crying kids, breaking plates, dogs barking, etc. But silence of all noise.

Do you love it or do you struggle with it?

Take a little bit today and sit in silence. It might be five minutes or an hour. Doesn’t matter!! Just give it a try.

Prayer:

There is so much in my head! God, please help me to quiet it all so that I can be with You and hear You. I want to know You in a way that I can distinguish your voice from any other noise in my life.  Amen – So be it.