I am easily driven from a place of peace and listening to God. Jesus maintained peace and calm. He maintained that place of rest where he could hear his Father.
After Jesus crossed over by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside. One of the meeting-place leaders named Jairus came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, “My dear daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live.”
Mark 5v21-23
I can be overwhelmed by voices clamouring for attention – and of course one of them will be mine! I have a hard time hearing God through the noise. Jesus however, had the peace and sense of the Father’s presence that he could picking out this one need from the others.
A woman who had suffered a condition of haemorrhaging for twelve years … She slipped in from behind and touched his robe … Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He … asked, “Who touched my robe?”
Mark 5v25-30
When I am on a mission, especially one from God, I have a hard time listening to any voice other than those related to the mission. Jesus has the presence of mind and peace to sense something is not right and respond to it.
Paul gives some clues about this peace –
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
Colossians 3v17
The implication is that the Lord’s peace has an intention to rule. The question is, am I willing to listen when he interrupts me with what he wants to say? This requires me to be present where I am. It requires me to quieten my driving desires and allow the Lord to speak.
How do you do with listening to God in the midst of the clamour?