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I hate static. 

Not like the kind that makes your clothes cling to you.

I’m talking about static on the radio. I know you’re thinking, “What are you doing listening to the radio? In this day and age – with technology rapidly changing everything we do and how we live. You have so many options!”

Yes, I could be listening to satellite radio, I could be listening to the music on my phone, or Pandora . . . there are so many different things out there where I could pick and choose the music I listen to, but call me “old school”, I still listen to the radio. 

I like that there seems to be this sort of randomness to the songs I hear. Sometimes they are just the right song at just the right moment. And I like the little stories that are told. You know, the behind-the-music as to why this person wrote this song. I can’t say I always enjoy the banter, the back-and-forth between the radio hosts, but I like knowing there are people there and it’s not all just computers. 

But static, I hate static. 

I listen to a station in the mornings that has several well-known preachers. They have different segments at different times, and with an hour-and-a-half commute to work each day, it feels like a pretty good way to spend my time. 

(Yes, I commute to work an hour and a half one way… long story, but let’s talk about that later. I love my job.)  

The worst part is that when I’m really trying to listen, whether it’s some deep theological explanation or just one of my favorite songs, then all of a sudden the static sort of takes over. 

I’m still trying to listen, but I just can’t focus. I can’t get back to what I intended to listen to and all I hear is the static. I can barely hear the voices on my favorite song. I even try to sing along as if that’s going to help it come in more clearly.

Yet the further I drive, the more the static takes over. I can no longer hear their voices.

When we take a step back and look at life, it sure sounds the same, doesn’t it? 

Our focus can be on God, yet we can get distracted by the things of this world. Even though it feels like we’re on this great path, static seems to develop in our lives where we can’t hear or focus on Christ anymore. 

Satan is subtle and knows how to re-focus your thoughts.

Satan tries all sorts of ways to lure us away from being faithful witnesses for God. He uses this so-called static to distort God‘s plan, his message and his will for our lives. So how do we get rid of the static?

The best thing I’ve found to help my radio station come in more clearly is to move closer to the tower.

Psalm 61:3: “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”

Christ is our strong tower. He is the source of power in our lives. It is only by him and through him that we have strength. And it is only when we draw closer to him that those signals come in more clearly and allow us to truly hear and understand his will for our lives. 

Unfortunately, instead of moving closer to the tower, too often we move away. We start searching for something else. We don’t want to endure the annoyance of the static, so we look for something different. Something to fill the void. 

What is the static in your life? What’s keeping you from hearing and acting on God’s Word?

Is it your group of friends? Are they really drawing you closer to God? 

Are your conversations filled with gossip, slander, plans to do things that you know really aren’t right? 

Maybe it’s your job. Maybe in your career you are in a position that really doesn’t line up with God‘s commandments. The lies, the cheating, the manipulation . . . if that’s a big part of your job, obviously that’s going to create a barrier between you and the Lord. 

Maybe it’s just how you spend your time. Whether it’s movies you watch, shows on TV, things you do, or just mindless thumbing through social media… all of this can be static. 

Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

All that we do, say, and display should be for God’s glory! It doesn’t mean we can’t have fun! It just means we stay focused on what’s really important. Living for Christ IS fun! 

Let’s examine our hearts and our lives and see how we can cut out the static and draw closer to our strong tower, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yalanda Merrell