I can't hear you!

Recently a friend and I were talking about how much we avoid silence. We fill every moment of the day with sound—the radio, the television, music. If I happen to have some time alone in the house, it's eerie. I can't stand the quiet. After about five minutes, I'm running for my ipod and filling the house with noise.

Filling every moment of the day with sound keeps me from being able to hear what is really important--God's still, small voice. Often in the Bible God's followers must get away and be quiet in order for him to speak to them. Moses heard God's whispering on the mountain, Jesus in the desert.

Why don't I take more time to sit in silence and talk to God and then listen to him speak to me? Sometimes I think I'm scared of what I might hear. I don't really want to know when I've sinned or how God is calling me to change. But when I'm quiet, I also hear the things I long to hear from my God--"I love you. You are my precious child. I have a plan for you. You can trust me." When I avoid quiet time because I don't want to hear the hard things, I also miss out on the words of comfort.

Somehow sitting quietly doesn't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. I love to read my Bible. I just feel like I'm filling up my spiritual gas tank. I can count how many verses I've read or how many blanks I've filled in my study guide. I'm making progress. I can check it off the list. But how do you measure what is accomplished by stillness before an awesome God? How do you measure intimacy with God?

Recently, I've felt led to turn off the radio in my car on the way to work. Usually I listen to the news or to Christian radio. These aren't bad and can be good and encouraging, but I want more. I want some time to pray for people in my life and listen to how God wants to use me to encourage them. I need to offer some challenging situations to God and then listen for his eternal perspective on them. He has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to teach us the truth. But how can I learn if I'm not paying attention?

I'm excited to get away for part of the day next Saturday at the ladies' retreat. I know that God is always ready to speak. When we take time to listen, he murmurs his words of love and encouragement. God won't yell at you over drone of the television. He waits in the silence for you to come to him. What are you waiting for?