When I was younger I kept noise going all the time. I even had my front door light switch connected to my radio. The moment I walked in, I flipped the switch and instant noise. I know now what I didn’t know then. I was blocking the buried emotional pain that was crying out for release. Can you relate? The pain that we bury is very alive. It seeps into our thought process no matter how much we deny it exists.
Having an agenda is the background noise of pride. Another block to silence is a negative dialogue. Anything, that is from your past, that you continue to rehearse is noise. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a great verse to memorize that will help overthrow that prideful noise. It says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The past has passed. It is over. Your noisy negative dialogue does not change one thing.
Anxiety and worry are very noisy. They are always pushing forward in your thoughts. They are also pride, and reveal our ‘self’ grappling for control. Anything that has to do with ‘self’ is noisy. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Years ago I heard a father say to his rebellious son, “I said no. What part of no don’t you understand, the N or the O?” I’ve never forgotten that!
Sitting quiet before the Lord takes practice. It is applying the instruction of 2 Corinthians 10:5 which says to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. It is like learning anything new. It is trial and error, but always moving forward. You may try to be still, but a thought jumps in. Then you take that thought captive through refocusing back on the Lord.
Unforgiveness is a huge barrier to stillness. It is sin, and hidden sin is very noisy. Matthew 18:34 is about the torturers that come with unforgiveness. Verse 35 says, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” One being tortured is not usually silent.
It is true that our minds are a battlefield. Isaiah 28:6 says that the Lord gives, “….strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” I like to think of the gate being my mind. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the things in your life that block you from being still. Mark 4:22 says, “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.”
Proverbs 8:34 was written about wisdom. It says, “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.”