my new white noise

 

 

Today in church, we had a service of praise. It was a gorgeous service made beautiful by stories of thanksgiving shared. A number of people, old and young, found their way up to the podium to look out at the sea of weary, yet rejoicing eyes, to share how they could thank God for their 2015 and anticipate His goodness in the upcoming 2016. They were broken (because aren’t we all, if we are honest) and they were real. Their anthems of thanksgiving were a sweet fragrance of Jesus. Their anthem gave life to the age old words “a weary world rejoicing”. I was encouraged by each of them in profound ways, but the last lady to share (and this was not scripted or planned ahead by anyone…it was an “open mic” of sorts) shared 7 words that I scribbled across my hand and have continued to rewrite on my hand all day long.

“His Word is my new white noise” she uttered thru tears and steadying breaths.

Pin that, frame that, tattoo that…whatever you need to do. But just let that sink in and stay in your mind a few days please.

His Word, the lamp to our feet.

His Word that does not return void.

His Word that is living and active and cannot help but to penetrate the heart. His word that should guide my every thought.

His Word…THE Word that became flesh and made His dwelling among us. That is the word she is speaking of. This God man reversed the norm of a baby becoming a King…by being a King that became a Baby…SO THAT the Word could be fulfilled and SO THAT the Word could dwell with man.

That is the Word she is speaking of.

Then I think of white noise. In fact, I do not have to think hard because it is floating throughout waves of sound in my house now, muting the nightly routine so that 3 babes sleep. So 3 babes sleep thru coffee being ground for the morning, a friend staying over sharing stories into the evening, toilets flushing, showers running…all the normal hubbub of a night at the Paulraj house. We turn the white noise out to drown the sounds of the humdrum so that those little ones aren’t too distracted and so that they can rest. It is routine and it is relied on by them.

And this woman stood up and said that His Word has become her new white noise.

All I know is that I want that to be true of me and my household. May His Word become our new white noise. Now, that does not mean I believe an audio bible should stream thru our home every evening and that our kids should adapt to falling asleep to Job being read aloud. Rather, I mean, that what David wrote

“I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I may not sin against thee” may be true for me.

I pray that His Word would be hidden in my heart in such a way that it is constantly on my mind and that the Living Word would be what drowns out the daily hubbub.  I pray, that as white noise is to my son’s that it would be to my wandering heart…routine and relied on.  May I be able to lose distractions and find peace of mind and body as I hear His Word in my heart over and again.

May we hide His Word in our hearts so that when the chaos and volume and non stop movement of life hits us…we may be quieted and find rest by His Word. May His Word be our new white noise. May the only thing that mutes the incessant noises and to do lists and thoughts be His Word that says “come to me all you who are weary and I WILL GIVE YOU REST”