Hearing Voices

There was a revealing moment the other night – the TV was on in our bedroom and my husband was channel surfing, as he is wont to do when I’m not in the room threatening to injure him for doing it. In the next room, I heard about ten words, and called out, “That’s Frank!” and stuck my head in the doorway to see the TV and confirm it. Sure enough, it was Frank from Trading Spaces. I used to watch that show – and I hate to say this but it’s a fair word – religiously. If I knew it was on, I didn’t miss it. Occasionally I taped it. I haven’t watched it for several years, having moved on to infrequently watching Flip that House and other shows, but I have definitely lost the fervor for TV that I once had. But I still knew Frank’s voice after all this time. And the same is true about other entertainers.

I recently bought a copy of the Experiencing God : Knowing and Doing His Will – Workbook. This is a bible study I did about ten years ago, and wanted to take a “refresher course” because it was just that good, and because I felt like I needed it.

It’s very convicting to realize how easily I recognize voices – even of people I’ve never met – from the world, and how I struggle to discern God’s will in my life. So what’s the difference? Exposure. Lately I sleep five or six hours a night, no matter how many pain pills or sleeping pills I take. On any given day I might spend an hour – or less – on bible study, two or three hours listening to Christian music which is either neutral or reinforces my faith, and probably ten hours working, with the TV in my office alternately tuned to Fox News, CNN, or CSPAN. Since we now have a fabulous home theater setup, we often spend evenings watching TV and/or a movie on the big screen. Small wonder I recognize Frank’s voice more readily than God’s.

This week’s sermon on The Effect of God’s Presence (mp3 and the rest of the series here) was on the effect that the presence of a holy God has in our lives. And I’m sorry to say that I really didn’t see myself too clearly in that picture. It’s time to turn off the TV, and start filling up that time with meditation and prayer instead. No lotus position and “ohmmmm” chanting or opening up my mind nonsense. I’m talking about Christian meditation. Focusing on what really matters, and retraining myself to hear and recognize God’s voice in my life.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Psalms 119:48
My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.

Psalms 104:34
May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.

Psalms 77:12
I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.

Psalms 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.