Turn up the volume

Have you ever been in a room where someone was talking, but the noise around you was so loud that you could barely hear them? The person may have been speaking clearly, but the problem wasn’t their voice—it was everything else competing for your attention.

Sometimes our spiritual lives can feel the same way.

God is speaking, but the volume of everything around us can become so loud that we struggle to hear Him. Work, responsibilities, social media, relationships, entertainment, worries, disappointment, and the constant demands of everyday life can slowly drown out the voice of God.

The question isn’t always, “Is God speaking?”
The question may be, “Have I turned down everything else enough to hear Him?”

We live in a world filled with noise. Our phones are constantly notifying us. Our minds are constantly processing information. We move from one responsibility to another without giving ourselves time to be still. Even when our bodies are resting, our minds can still be running.

And somewhere in the middle of all that noise, our relationship with God can become quieter.

We may still attend church. We may still pray occasionally. We may still read our Bible when we have time. But there is a difference between knowing about God and intentionally making room to know Him.

Think about a radio. If you are listening to a station and there is static interfering with the signal, you don't blame the station because you can't hear it clearly. You adjust the dial until the signal becomes clear.

Sometimes we need to do the same thing spiritually.

We need to turn down the noise.

Turn down the distractions.
Turn down the opinions of others.
Turn down the constant need to be entertained.
Turn down the fear.
Turn down the worry.
Turn down the busyness.

And turn up our hunger for God.

The more time we spend in His presence, the more familiar His voice becomes. Prayer becomes more than a list of requests. Scripture becomes more than words on a page. Worship becomes more than music. Our relationship with God becomes personal.

Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to spend time with the Father. If Jesus made time to step away from the noise, how much more should we?

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is put your phone down, close the door, sit quietly, and say, “Lord, I’m here. Speak to me.”

You may not hear an audible voice. God may not answer in the dramatic way you expected. But as you seek Him, He begins to work within your heart. He brings clarity where there was confusion, peace where there was anxiety, conviction where there was compromise, and strength where you felt weak.

God doesn't compete with the noise of the world.

He invites us to step away from it.

Maybe your spiritual life doesn't need something new. Maybe it simply needs your attention again.

So today, turn up the volume on your spiritual life.

Pray a little longer.
Read His Word a little deeper.
Worship a little more intentionally.
Spend a little more time listening.
And give God the space to speak into your heart.

The world will always be loud.

But God's voice can still be heard.

You just have to be willing to quiet the noise.