Turn off the Radio
I’ve been doing something this fall that has been truly freeing. When I get in the car, I completely turn off the radio. You read that right. No music. No podcast. No phone calls. Just me and the beautiful sound of silence.
Before you judge or tune me out, keep an open mind. There is a method to the madness.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself a question:
What if we could reclaim moments of time in our day to be still with God?
Most of us complain that we have “no time” and that the demands of our day are overwhelming. In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer says that the frantic pace of our lives are the #1 reason we live our lives disconnected from God.
I can completely understand this reality. I face the same demands you do and have the same tendencies to overschedule my life.
Afterall, I am raising two teenage girls.
And, because those demands are not going away anytime soon, I’ve been thinking about how to create more space to be with God.
That’s where the car comes into play.
Too often I distract myself in the car. It’s mostly music or a podcast or sports radio (as if I need to learn another thing about the latest scandal in sports). I’m just wasting time until I get to the next thing.
Then I had this thought: what if I could reclaim this time in the car to be still with God?
A few months ago, I starting experimenting. Here’s what I decided to do.
Step By Step Instructions
I put my phone in the glove box.
Completely shut off the radio.
Roll the windows all the way down (if the weather is nice).
Take 3 deep breaths and settle.
Invite God into the moment.
After a few days of doing this I started to really look forward to my time in the car. It was my chance to escape the noise of my life and recenter my soul towards God. Sometimes I breathe and smell the fresh air. Sometimes I pray. And, sometimes, after I’m settled, I ask God a question.
My favorite two questions are:
God, what do you want me to know?
God, what do you want me to do?
What I’ve found in the last few months is this space in the car has become sacred. Not only do I get to decompress, but God speaks to me when I’m driving because I’m making space for Him.
Friend, if you are “too busy” or feel overwhelmed by life sometimes, create space for God by shutting off the noise. You can do that in the car today on your commute to work. And, remember, God loves you and sees you and wants to speak to you. All you need to do is make yourself available and create space to be with Him.
I hope this helps you seek Jesus well.
Need help? Check out this podcast episode that will guide you in settling your mind and your soul with God.
