Transcripts

In the Bible, what we have are transcripts of messages from the Lord, taken by men who often spent most of their lives in quiet, silent, meditative prayer. While no doubt these men brought with them their own biases, feelings, concerns, even prejudices of the day, this is not a reason to simply discount it. They were closer in tune than we are, and wrote what they heard from the heart. Personally, I believe it is probably the most accurate guide we have as to what God is like, what He expects, and what we are to do. The problem today is that we haven't taken the time to listen to his voice. There is too much static- too much in the way: ego, life concerns, technology-at-every-moment, sin, self, and an assortment of other problems that keep us from fully tuning in. Like a bad radio signal, we can just barely decipher a voice- a personality, speaking through fuzz and hiss. If you have ever tried to listen to a speech or a bit of news, or even a game on the radio station that wasn't coming in very well, you know what I mean. At first, it is impossible to decipher. You hear a few key words, then static, then a few more. If it's something you really want to hear, and you keep listening diligently, you'll find something else begins to happen. The jumbled parts become clearer, you find that you know what is going on and being said- even if you miss a few words here and there, you can generally keep up. This is because our mind craves patterns, and will in time put the puzzle pieces together as we listen. I think it is the same thing with His voice. Our spirit, much like the mind, craves patterns from Him. The more you focus, the more you listen in quiet with an open heart, the more you will hear. Most of us can't get beyond our own personal prayers, our own concerns, what we want, what we think we need- to just stop, sit and listen. A few get irritated with the static and will quickly move on to a clearer station- after all, there are so many out there that are easier to hear. But for the few who stay to listen, to wait for the static to lift or to clear, we may find a message that will change our lives forever.