Several years ago, our son gave us an Amazon Alexa. Our first thought was what do we do with this thing? Our son proceeded to show us the many uses. Let’s just say many uses do not happen in this home! We use Alexa to turn the living room lights on and off, get the weather report, time the clothes in the dryer, and play worship music. That is about it for us where Alexa is concerned!
Alexa is voice activated, and she will listen to anyone’s voice! Anyone’s voice! If we have a movie playing and one of the characters is named Alexa, our Amazon Alexa will activate every time the character’s name is mentioned. Our grandchildren love to ask her a million questions, and they love to give her math problems. Some of their questions go like this, “Alexa, what is one million times four hundred minus sixty-three plus one hundred thousand?”
Even though I own Alexa, she is persuaded by other voices.
In my daily life, I sometimes feel like Alexa. The world’s voices have grown incredibly loud. There are so many voices trying to tell me what is true and what I should believe. People try to persuade me to stray from Truth. Hundreds of voices on social media, television, and the printed word are all calling out to me. All these voices try to persuade me toward what they call truth.
In our world today, it can be difficult to discern the voice of truth. Some voices are quite persuasive in declaring truth, their truth. With so many voices calling our names, it can be hard to hear the voice of the One who owns us.
Often, the loud voice draws my attention, but the loud voice is not necessarily the right voice. Amid the loudness, I must be still and know He is God. One thing I have learned as I have journeyed with God is that I must be still and listen for His voice. We all need to slow down, sip a cup of something, and sit with God.
Thank God for good friends whose voices encourage us and give us advice. Thank God for the voice of those who teach us His word. Thank God for the melodic voice of worship songs. All these voices are good. Yet, they will never replace hearing the voice of God.
God longs for us to get quiet with Him. He still says, “Be still and know that I am God.” He invites us to step out of the frantic pace of life and its chaos and still ourselves before Him. He invites us to remember Who is in charge. Be still and listen.
“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. – Psalm 46:10-11 NLT