“Be still, and know that I am God!”

Psalm 46:10 NLT

I happened to watch one of my daughter’s town basketball games. The home team—my daughter’s team—was focused, playing with excellence, and already leading toward victory. At halftime, the opponent’s senior football team walked in to watch the girls play.

While everyone in the gym was quietly enjoying the game, the boys from the football team began making strange noises, distracting the home team. One of the star players was given a penalty shot. I’ve hardly ever seen her miss a basket, but just as she aimed, one of the boys made a loud noise, and she missed. On her second attempt, their conversations and giggles echoed through the quiet gym, distracting her again.

The referee noticed what they were doing and saw that it was intentional. He stopped the game and firmly instructed the boys to show discipline and respect—especially as fellow athletes. He then asked the opponent’s coach to send them out of the gym.

The star player aimed a third time—this time with fewer distractions—and she scored. With renewed focus, the home team went on to seal the victory.

As children of God, moments like this remind us to ignore the noise and stay focused on the goal set before us. It is crucial that we learn to tune out distractions and tune our hearts to God’s voice.

David inquired of the Lord every time he faced his enemies. It wasn’t a one-time habit—it was continual. As a king, he interacted with countless people daily—hearing complaints, petitions, official matters, and even the concerns of his own family. Yet in the midst of all that noise, David continually withdrew to hear from God in the now moment. He moved forward with confidence because his ears were trained to listen to the Lord.

Jesus also modeled this. He rose early, while it was still dark, just to step away from the noise and listen to the Father in prayer.

God speaks to us in the same way He spoke to David. And the greater the calling on your life, the greater the noise that will try to distract you.

Just like noise-canceling headphones help you hear clean sound and block out interference, pray that the Holy Spirit quiets your spirit so you can clearly hear the voice of God.

Where you are going depends on what you are willing to leave behind. To hear that still, small whisper from God, you must shut out the noise around you. Don’t entertain that conversation, that phone call, that place, or that group of people who brings unnecessary noise to distract you.

Do whatever it takes to clear the atmosphere so you can receive that one instruction, that one step forward, that one word of guidance from the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, quiet every noise that pulls my attention away from You. Teach me to be still, to hear Your voice, and to follow Your guidance with clarity and confidence. Tune my ears to Heaven, and lead me in the way I should go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.