Hearing God in the Noise

Two friends were walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxis were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, one of them said, “What an interesting place to hear a cricket.”

His friend said, “You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!”

“No, I’m sure of it,” his friend said, “I heard a cricket.”

“That’s crazy,” said his friend.

The man, who thought he had heard a cricket, listened carefully for a moment and then walked across the street to a big, cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.

“That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have superhuman ears!”

“No,” said the man who heard the cricket. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.”

“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”

“Yes, it’s true,” came the reply. “It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you.”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within 20 feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs. “See what I mean?” asked the man who had heard the cricket. “It all depends on what’s important to you.” (Keenan Kelsey, Making Choices, via eSermons.con newsletter)

Devotional:

Exodus 33:7-11 – click to read text

When life tends to be too much to handle, we usually shut down and allow life to take over – instead of relying and placing our trust in God. Moses sought God and God met with him face to face.  Those who wanted to meet with God would seek him out in a tabernacle. What is your tabernacle? Where is it? How often do you meet with God?

If we can’t hear God amidst the noise of everyday life – we are not spending out time with Him. It will take work and practice. We are to practice the presence of God in our daily lives. Just as the friend couldn’t hear the cricket, we won’t be able to hear God, if He does not play an important role in our lives. We hear what is most important. If the struggles and trials in life is what we are focusing on – we’ll only hear that and see that – but if we count it all joy in our trials and accept them as something from the Lord we’ll see Him in it.

I encourage you today, to seek out His face and seek out His presence in your daily life – follow the example of the man on the street who heard the cricket and put all focus on the Lord and you’ll hear him in the noise of life.

Blessings in Christ,

J. B. Sisam