“Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening…” I Samuel 3:4 (NIV)
After
my wife underwent heart surgery we explored the feasibility of acquiring a cell
phone. We selected several to test
their reception in several areas of town.
Further, we talked to several friends that had cell phones and purchased
one of the phones that they recommended.
We looked forward to using it as we traveled across the country on our
vacations, confident that we would never be out of potential touch with 911 or
other emergency numbers.
Imagine our consternation when
we used it on our first extended journey and all we were able to receive was
static. At first we thought that
something had happened to our cell phone but more experienced cell phone
veterans explained that clarity of the
reception is directly related to the existing terrain and the distance from the
cell phone towers. The farther one is
away from the power source the weaker the signal and therefore the more jumbled
it becomes and harder to hear.
As we
considered this information it’s similarity to spiritual discernment becomes
obvious. If one truly wants to receive
God’s message through the Holy Spirit, one must maintain a close relation ship
with Him, the source of power.
How
can we be assured that we are close enough to hear God’s word? First one must remove any “static-causing”
elements in his/her life. Sin and
disobedience are the primary sources of transmission interference, inasmuch as
they divert our attention away from God.
We need not only recognize those elements in our life but also to ask
for forgiveness so we can more effectively hear His voice.
The
more time one spends in prayer, Bible study, and worship the easier it will be
to distinguish the messages of the Holy Spirit from the chaos of the world
around us. Listen for the
Spirit. Do you hear the voice of God or
static?