The Sound that Sustains

It’s been at least 2 weeks since City Week, and somehow that feels like forever ago and also like it was yesterday. We can remember the sound of praise at the beginning of service, the sound of the Holy Spirit moving in the chapel, and the sound of silence while God whispered to each of us in those deep altar moments. We try to capture the sound of those memories like voice memos, but they never really sound like they did in that moment. Can I let you in on a secret?

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The quiet moments with Jesus in your bedroom are better than the loud ones at City Week. Don’t get me wrong – I love City Week and the incredible encounters that we have with the Lord. But, when I look back, my most powerful moments with God were the ones where it was just me and Him. Where there was no worship band to set the atmosphere, no speaker to get me to the altar, no leader to give me a timely word or powerful prayer… When it’s just me and God, it’s easier to discern the Holy Spirit from hype or emotion. Everything gets clearer, but it comes at the cost of comfort. It’s not comfortable to worship by yourself in your room. It’s not comfortable to pray out loud when no one else is there. It’s not comfortable to ask questions and wait in silence. But if you wait long enough, He answers. I’ve always heard God like a thought or voice in my mind, but it’s different than my own normal internal thoughts. At City Week, He comes like a crashing wave, where I’m consumed, it’s loud, and He feels like He’s everywhere in my thoughts. But at home, He comes calmly and peacefully, like the best type of friend I could ask for. Sometimes, He feels slow (according to my time), but I know He’s always on time.

It's easier than you think to have those types of moments between you and the Lord. Jesus tells us, “Come to Me all who are tired and weary, and I will give you rest.” Jesus isn’t afraid of your emotions or situations – He just wants you to go to Him. Make your flesh a little uncomfortable and pray out loud to an empty room. Ask for God to show up without all the hype and people around. Get used to sitting in silence and waiting on the Lord to speak – when He does, that’s the sound that will sustain you.

QUESTION FOR TODAY: Have you heard God speak to you when it’s just you and Him in the quiet?

PRAY THIS:

God, I want to hear Your voice in my life every day. I need You to help guide me, calm me, protect me, and be my best friend. You know me better than anyone else. I want to know You more. Speak to me for I am listening.

TRY THIS:

Turn on a worship song and worship in your room – just you and the Lord. When the song is done, sit in the silence for 10 minutes, and just ask God to speak to you. He’ll give you the rest you need and the “sound” you need to keep going.