I’m running drastically through the cornfield. Searching for God, I look up but I can’t see Him. The blue skies overwhelm my eyes. I begin crying out as I run through the maze, pushing each leaf and stalk from my path. Suddenly, I hear a voice say, “Sit down.” Reluctant to sit down, I find myself Indian style wondering why I was supposed to sit. But then I realize…I have headphones in my ears. As I take my headphones out, I realize I’m blinded and I take off the blindfold. Clarity and comfort finally begin to settle in.

I know, you’re thinking, “What in the world is going on?” On Wednesday, I was praying and thinking about the youth. I wanted to pray for them and I was trying to seek out the Lord, but I felt like I hit a brick wall. Then I began to see this vision in my mind. What does it mean?

Well, as I hesitated to share this with the youth, I received a tweet from the of @TozerAW, the daily quotes from the famous theologian A.W. Tozer. The quote for the day was,

“Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.”

While worshipping the Lord with music is great, and playing games are fun, and hearing messages on Jesus and the Christian life are essential, we must put away all distractions in order to hear the Lord. With all of these distractions surrounding us 24/7 we become blinded and deaf to what the Lord is trying to speak to us; and then we wonder why we don’t hear God?

Tonight I shared this vision during our worship/prayer time. I had the music silenced and told them to spend 3 minutes, with no phone or anything, just listening for God to speak. And guess what? He spoke. Here is a testimony from Cody Ventrice

“ya know i was praying and i asked god to some how some way tell me he is here with me and you know what happend wow…as soon as i prayed that it started pouring down rain coincidence i THINK NOT!!!”

In just three minutes, with no distractions, the Lord was able to speak clearly. Of course, the rain had a big influence, but what were that chances that at the very moment Cody prayed, the beautiful and peaceful sounds of rain would make its noise present at that very moment? That’s up for you to decide.

The point is this: We need to get less distracted and become more prayer-minded. As a culture, we are so over-stimulated that silence is not only foreign, but can even be annoying. We don’t take the time to think. We don’t take the time to listen. We just go go go without realizing the consequences.

Whoever you are reading this. Whether you are a student, adult, or someone not even sure about this whole God-thing. I ask that you would just give him 5 minutes. 5 minutes of un-distracted attention (No cell phone, tv, music, etc.). Ask Him to speak. His answer may not be in words, it may be in a sign (like the rain), or it may be through someone else. But just give Him 5 minutes.

What’s the worst that could happen? You lose 5 minutes?

I dare you to try it.

*The song below is from one of my favorite bands Confide. Please check them out. I wanted to leave you with their last song on their album “Shout the Truth” called “This I Believe.” This is a prayer by the band and is quite powerful. You can also here it here on spotify.

“I will never turn
I will never look away
Father show me your face
Praise thee come as You are
Too hear your voice
Can you guide my all the way
til’ I’m home safe with you”