Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

A friend of mine recently published a book centered on the importance of intentionally making time to slow down—to listen for and learn from the presence of God.

Yet from the moment I wake up, my life is often filled with noise. Social media headlines. The radio. National and local news. A growing list of emails (thank you for reading this one). And the urgent tasks of the morning that demand immediate attention. Does that sound familiar?

Chances are, your life looks much the same. We are bombarded by noise all day long. With so many voices competing for our attention, how can we truly hear the voice of God?

The answer is not just to hear, but to listen. The psalmist reminds us of the power of stillness: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In today’s world, stillness doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intention. We must choose to slow down in order to listen.

Think about your most recent conversation. How often were you “listening” while already forming your response? Or maybe your mind wandered somewhere else entirely. If this happens so easily in face-to-face conversations, how often does it happen in our conversations with God?

Here’s a simple suggestion: before the day slips away from you, take a few intentional minutes to sit quietly before God. No agenda. No words required. Just stillness.

You may be surprised by what you begin to hear.