Hearing Christ in a Modern World

I have been reading a couple of different books lately.  One of them was talking about Paul's conversion to Christ (found in Acts chapter 9).  Saul (Paul's name before coming to Christ) was on his way to Damascus to find followers of the "Way" (Christians) so that he could take them prisoner back to Jerusalem.  While on his way to Damascus Saul saw a bright light from heaven come over him and heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  Saul questioned who it was that was speaking to him and the voice said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

This encounter between Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus got me thinking.  Why does this never happen in our present time?  Why have I never been stopped by a bright light and heard the voice of Jesus Christ?  How can I hear the voice of Christ in my life?

We live in a very modern technological world.  Everything in our lives has something to do with technology.  While at home we constantly have the television on.  While driving to and from work (or wherever) we constantly have the stereo on (some of us louder than others).  When not watching television or listening to music we are surfing the internet to catch up with people we never met on Facebook or texting our friends.  Our lives are cluttered with technological noise.

All of these things serve as static between us and God.  We don't give Christ a chance to speak to us.  We constantly have our attention focussed on something else.  Maybe if we turned all of these things off for a bit each day we could hear the voice of Christ in our lives.

Now I'm not saying Jesus is going to flash a bright light in our eyes and speak to us while driving on Interstate 70 or something.  I do believe that if we take the time to be silent and listen, we can learn a lot about Christ's will for our life.

I am addicted to television.  I have like six or seven shows I watch each week, plus I watch too much Fox News.  I have an iPhone that I play with constantly.  I am on my computer all of the time, often while still watching television or playing with my iPhone.

Challenge to myself and others:

At the beginning of Lent I took the advice of a friend and chose to give up "Not doing my devotions" for lent.  This means that I was going to spend twenty or so minutes each day in the Word and prayer.  I had to turn off the T.V., close my computer, turn off the stereo, and put away the iPhone for twenty minutes.  I read a couple chapters each day from a book of the Bible, beginning and ending each day's reading with prayer.  

I have seen a great change in myself over the last month and a half almost.  Now I admit that I missed a few days, it happens, but the vast majority of the days during Lent I kept up with my commitment.  I now find myself thinking about God much more than I did before Lent when my time with God was lacking.  I find myself thinking about the impact of what I am doing and saying daily might have on the Kingdom.  It has changed how I view my relationships, my work, and my personal time.  

I challenge myself and all of you reading this to do what I did.  It doesn't have to be during Lent, please do not wait another year to do this.  Starting today, right now, spend just the next 30 days spending fifteen to twenty minutes each day in the Word and prayer.  Don't just say you will do it, follow through.  Set some ground rules.  "I will read fifteen minutes each day, before work starting April 21, 2009 until May 21, 2009."  I promise it will change your outlook on life and you will find yourself desiring that time each day after that and continuing this practice.  

It seems so painfully simple.  All of us strive to do this all of the time.  Most of us fail.  We will continue to fail as we are not perfect.  If we take the time to ask Christ to take away all of our distractions for just a few minutes, we can begin to hear his voice.  Think about it.