What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” Mark 1:24-25
Ever have one of those “push-me, pull-you” days? Remember the llama like creature in the original Doctor Doolittle? It had two heads, one at each end of it’s body, and could never decide which way to go. It was called a Push Me Pull You. There are days I feel like everyone is tugging on me at once, clamoring for my attention. The noises of the “But I need you to” , “Me first”, and “Now” stuff my ears to where nothing I hear seems clear, just like when the air pressure changes. My day crowds in, pressing into my little space. Sure we all have had one of those days, or weeks, or years.
All of that clamor makes it hard to hear God’s whisper of love and guidance. Getting caught up in the Now overshadows the Eternal. Only God can silence the din of the world so His voice reigns in our souls. I discovered the hard way long ago that trying to yell over other voices rarely works, whether it is in a board room with everyone expressing their opinion at once, or with a group of bouncing kids, or battling to be heard over the TV, dishwasher, and other noises in the house. The volume keeps escalating as everything and everyone competes to be heard. The way to get attention is to be soft spoken. Then everything stops to hear you. Silence. Peace and quiet.
When we pray, Jesus calls all the other distractions to be silent. He takes command. That still small voice speaks volumes – and the demons of day to day chaos obey. How often in the Bible did Jesus enter and say “Peace.” ? He is Peace. He said He did not come to destroy the world, but to redeem it. That means my day to day world as well. When I acknowledge him as King of my life, all else falls better into place so I can handle it. Aahh, peace and quiet at last – even in the midst of all that is going on around me.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
