“Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God” (John 8:47 NLT).
It was an early Saturday morning, and no one else in the house was awake. I quietly slipped out of bed, put on my workout clothes, and headed to the gym. After more than two weeks at home with my children on Christmas vacation, this momma was desperate for some time alone.
When I entered the facility, I was immediately assaulted by deafening, rap-style music. The song blared through the speakers at full volume. At first I thought, There’s no way I can exercise like this! But, I was determined. I wasn’t going to leave. In the thirty seconds it took me to walk to the treadmill, I heard at least five obscenities. I couldn’t get my headphones on quickly enough.
Even after I turned on my Christian music, I could still hear the other song. It was distracting and disturbing. The lyrics made me uncomfortable. I did my best to concentrate on the positive words in my ears and tune out the profane.
It wasn’t long before I barely noticed the rap music and was able to settle into my workout. After fifteen minutes, the perpetrator turned off the radio and left the building. I was finally able to relax and exercise in peace.
We live in a world that’s riddled with sin. Evil is all around us, and we’re constantly bombarded with negative influences. Sometimes the world can be loud – shockingly loud – and it’s difficult to hear the Lord’s voice. We must choose to focus on truth and tune out anything opposed to it.
Daily Bible reading is essential to walking in victory. You should hunger for God’s instruction just as you hunger for food. You need to take pleasure in his commands more than you savor a fine meal. If you struggle with consistency in this area, ask God to increase your desire for his Word. May you find renewed delight in listening to him!