The Vine News

When was the last time you were still and quiet?
Our world offers distractions galore -- on our televisions, on our computer screens, on our telephones, on every bill board and even on some vehicles. There is an ever-present press from every conceivable  device (and even some unconcievable ones) for just a moment of our attention -- all five seconds of it .
With all that we have going on, its hard to get a word in edgewise.  Talk to a person -- anyone under 80  -- for more than 5 minutes, and you're likely to be interrupted at least once. Now if it's that hard to get a conversation with someone standing right in front of you, think how difficult it must be for God with His still, small voice.
He's not handicapped by any means -- He knows exactly how to get our attention. But hearing from God requires a commitment to take the time necessary to hear from Him. And a willingness to obey.
One who hears clearly from the Lord has spent time with Him, become familiar with His character as revealed in Scripture, and opens their heart to God-ordained character change.
To peer into Scripture in such a way that Scripture peers into us involves pushing all else aside so that this Living Word takes preeminence.
Jesus Himself told a would-be disciple who wanted to bury his father before taking action to follow Him to let the dead bury the dead. He will have no competition, because nothing compares to Him. Not the basketball game, not the choir rehearsal, not school, day care or dinner.
We need to be still.
We have to be quiet.
We have to learn to hear from Him.
The communications tools of our present age are amazing. And the technology available to connect people around the globe is astounding. But there is nothing so powerful as a soft-spoken Word from the Creator of all.