White noise can be defined as:1. Noise containing many frequencies with equal intensities
2. Such noise as used to mask other noises
It essentially sounds like static. White noise also made for some excellent percussion sounds in 8-bit SNES games. Just sayin'.
Psychologists might even pin the calming effect of the fan noise as originating all the way back to when we were in the womb and found the sound of our mothers' heartbeat and circulating blood peaceful. Makes sense to me. Doesn't really make it seem that manly though. Oh well.
This same concept can be applied to spiritual life.
Keeping a steady stream of good influences in your life can drown out the worldly distractions that might send you down a road you didn't want to go on. For me, holy white noise means surrounding myself with Godly people, attending a small group, attending church every week, reading my bible every day if I can, devotionals, listening to worship music, constant prayer, etc. It might look different for each individual but the point is to have a healthy schedule of Godly activities in the weekly mix to keep you on track with a lifestyle that honors God and helps you recognize the decisions that might be permissible, but aren't beneficial (1 Corinthians 6:12).
See, temptation is nasty thing. We all have weak areas. Maybe it's food, maybe it's shopping, maybe it's lying, self-pity, lust, pride, greed, obsession, addiction, you name it. For whatever reason, just like we all have natural character strengths, there's always a flip side to that coin - a kryptonite that defuses us of our super powers. And I don't need to explain what happens when you follow any of those paths for too long. Hint: they lead to death (Romans 6:23). Okay, so I explained it.
When you have a constant exposure to righteousness, it makes it harder to give in to temptation. Think about it. The decision to give yourself over to a temptation is not quite as easy when you know small group is the next day and you'll have to tell people "how you're doing". Many people have a hard time attending worship services because the atmosphere that worship creates causes us to reflect on areas of our lives we may have been neglecting. They may find themselves crying and not knowing why. With no white noise present, opening the flood gates of a whole spectrum of grace and love can be overbearing.
White noise can also help us make integral decisions, like who to hang out with. It's easier to recognize bad influences when you've been around some good ones. It's like chomping into a lemon after you just brushed your teeth. However, if you've been drinking lemonade all day the sour taste might fit right in.
There are so many lies out there: "this is how your body should look to be attractive", "it's weak to show emotion", "nobody loves you". How are you going to recognize them if you haven't been reading the Truth? You can send those lies right back where they came from if you keep God's Word close to heart. I would be remiss if I didn't provide some truths to combat the lies I just mentioned:
Lie: "this is how your body should look to be attractive"
Truth: "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." ~Proverbs 31:30
Lie: "it's weak to show emotion"
Truth: "Jesus wept." ~John 11:35
Lie: "nobody loves you"
Truth: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." ~Matthew 10:29-31
Jesus combated temptation using this same technique in Matthew 4, which brings me to my next point. The start of the chapter picks up immediately following Jesus's baptism at which, if you recall, a voice comes from the heavens saying "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Led by the Spirit, Jesus then goes into the wilderness to be tempted by the temptor himself.
The first thing the devil says to Jesus is "If You are the Son of God..." (4:3) I purposely truncated that sentence because it's the big "IF" at the beginning I want to call attention to. Your identity is always going to be brought into question after God calls it out. Some of the worst spiritual attacks come right after a great God moment/experience. Why? Because being on track with God's will is devastating for the kingdom of darkness.
Back to the Matthew 4 story, Jesus then responds to three waves of temptation simply by quoting scripture and cutting through the deceitful and manipulative motives of the devil. Something he could have never done had he not been studying scripture his entire life leading up to that point. The white noise drowns out the distractions.
If you've been out of the loop for a while it's sometimes hard to get back involved in the "squeaky clean" stuff, to use a phrase my work friends seem to be fond using around me. It's kind of like jumping into a cold pool - that first leap is the toughest but super refreshing once you're in and acclimated. Or, to use a light/dark analogy, it can take a while for your eyes to acclimate to the light. I dive deep into that illustration in my blog article called the The Pirate Christian, if you're interested.
But the same goes for the reverse. Once you've developed that healthy spiritual lifestyle, it acts as a buffer for all those little persuasions that once plagued your thoughts. And take heart, there is progress to be had in the spiritual life and maturity can be attained. The more you grow spiritually the battle for purity and righteousness becomes less about struggle and more about maintenance. There comes a point where you are no longer tossed about by every wind of doctrine and have become unshakable in your faith. (Ephesians 4:14)
So I challenge you to make some good, clean, healthy, white noise in your life. Schedule it on your calendar if you have to. Make that decision to join a small group. Get involved in your church beyond attendance. Find an inspirational book. Read your bible regularly. Get alone with God and pray for longer than 5 minutes. Tithing is another huge spiritual buffer - giving 10% of your income - an act of obedience and faith that gives to God what is rightfully His and unlocks a life of financial blessing, favor, and freedom. I assure you, whatever it is you feel you'll be sacrificing to put time into these Godly activities, you'll be pleased you did. You provide the sacrifice, God provides the fire. (1 Kings 18:20-40)
~Kyle Hopson
