Stop the Noise
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (annoying distraction – AMP) – 1 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah – Psalm 46:10-11 NKJV.
Tom Waddington was attempting to row solo across the Atlantic from Newfound Land to Penzance, England when he was surrounded by large whales. It is believed that the whales were Pilot Whales, and they like to be with other whales. Finding Tom’s little boat was something of a novelty to break up their days. The ten or so whales surrounding him eventually grew to be as much as a thousand. Only one of the whales actually bumped into the boat but it was a scary moment, and he was afraid the whales would disable the boat’s rudder.
Tom tried to frighten the whales away by yelling and splashing in the water with his oars. Finally, Tom called for advice from Charlie Pitcher who had rowed across the Atlantic by himself in the past. Pitcher said, “He was like, the best thing to do is, be quiet and still — which is exactly the opposite of what I did earlier.” Finally, with the new strategy the whales grew tired of Tom and his boat moving away from him. (NPR 07.11.24 and various other news venues.)
It is a sad thought to think that your prayers have become to God nothing but “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal,” or an “annoying distraction.” How could that ever happen? There is no doubt that God hears our prayers, but maybe the effectiveness of those prayers are drowned out by our actions and the attitude of our heart. In Matthew 22 Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus answers by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).”
Love, do you, have it? In the Love Chapter we are told, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:-4-7).”
Does your life just sound like a lot of noise to God? Do you have an attitude of love? Do your actions fail to flow from your love for God and for others? If so, stop the noise! Set aside some time and be still before the Lord. Listen for the still small voice to speak to you and renew the spirit of love (Psalm 23:3a) within you. God says through the Psalmist, “Rest (Be still – NIV) in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him…(Psalm 37:7a).”