Those voices

Every once in a while there will be a news article about some horrific crime in the newspaper.  And, every once in a while in those articles we will see a comment made by the perpetrator....something to the extent "the voices in my head told me to do it".  Some folks laugh or snicker when they read those comments.  Others, the more empathic ones, feel somewhat sorry for the person making the comment.  This is perhaps because they think that the one who said it may just be a bit left of center...confused and sick.

Funny thing about those voices in the head.  We all have them !  We would never admit it to anyone, nor do we like to think about it.  But, the reality is, they are there, talking to us every day.  Some examples:

• the voice of Satan comes through loud and clear in our heads as he tempts us to sin and do things that our other self knows to be wrong.  It whispers such things as:  "go ahead, no one will know", "it's ok", "just this one time", "come on, it's not really that wrong", and the like.
• the voice of truth and reason will try to countermand the utterings of Satan.  It will literally shout such things as:  "uh-uh, you know better", "is that what you really want to do", "why are you even thinking that", "is that pleasing to God", and the like.
• our own voices often become a chorus in our head as we debate decisions.  I call it the mind dance, especially at those times when the pros and cons of both sides of the decision to be made are just about equal in their weight and impact on the ultimate decision.  The mind dance is a tiring exercise, as well as a frustrating process.  It can wear us out, and we fear making the wrong decision.

Here's the problem with those voices in the mind.  We can't, on our own, really shut them up can we?  Oh, it's not from a lack of trying.  I really think that that maxi-computer we call our brain (which our mind is the permanent resident of)  is wired up such that we can't, in and of ourselves shut it up, or shut it down......much like our hearts.  So what to do about those voices?

 

 

We silence the mind by talking......talking with God.  Praying.  And then trusting.  Trusting that He will lead us through the challenge.  His voice will always be loud and clear.....louder than all of those other voices.  And, He doesn't dance around.  He's pretty direct.  You just got to listen to the right voice.