https://odb.org/2026/10/13/jesus-prayer-priority
Mark 1:29–39 (NIV): 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
The Arctic lights of the aurora borealis (the northern lights) are well known for their shimmering green and violet light, but did you know they also emit low frequency electromagnetic (radio) waves? Special devices can convert these natural radio signals into audible whooshing and crackling noises. However, to record these otherwise inaudible vibrations of electric and magnetic energy, you must travel at least four miles away from human sources of sound or electricity that could interfere with the radio receivers.
It’s also sometimes necessary to leave the noise of our lives to hear God’s voice. Mark’s gospel describes Jesus waking up before dawn and finding a “solitary” place to pray (1:35). He’d stayed up late the night before, healing and freeing people from demons (vv. 21-32). The “whole town” had watched (v. 33). Can you imagine their joy and awe? But while Jesus willingly served them, the experience was likely also exhausting. So the next morning, Jesus took time to find quiet before God, despite the fact that the people were looking for him (v. 37). (Jennifer Benson Schuldt, Our Daily Bread 13th October 2026)
In photography, there’s a concept called noise which basically means a less than perfect shot of the scene in terms of light captured by the camera’s sensor. In layman’s terms we could simply call it some distortion because it was not as clear as we wanted it to be.
In life, noise can come in the form of the things we constantly hear. The surrounding background sound for example. The condo I live in Kelana Jaya has so much background noise because it is next to the entrance to the Subang toll plaza. In most mornings, we hear ambulance sirens and blaring of horns by either the police or immigration escorting prisoners/detainees. This is all so common on top of the usual cars and heavy vehicular low gear changes as they take off after clearing the toll booths. A sharp contrast to our home in Seremban which is so quiet and sometimes silent, except for the chirping of birds.
The real noise figuratively in life, I feel, is the near constant need for us to complete our daily tasks and responsibilities. From brushing our teeth to taking a bath, to preparing breakfast, making coffee, getting dressed, putting on shoes – in my case walking to the train station to catch the train to work and the moment we arrive at our desk, the matters we need to deal with. Even when standing in the train as it stops and commuting passengers disembark and embark, my mind is constantly thinking of work or my next sermon and once in a while, I will just daydream that I live a different life!
On top of our daily quiet time with the Lord, we need to get away from all these noise, whether the physical or the metaphorical. Away from all these tasks and just chill and be with God in prayer and worship. All alone in the spirit as our soul processes and forms the words in our mind to communicate and listen to God, the Holy Spirit. We should do this more often and perhaps do this during our quiet time too. Just chill and pray without a set time (as long as it takes), away from the rigours of life and our responsibilities. Sometimes it is necessary to hear the voice of God to give us direction or to recharge us again with a renewed sense of a mission.
Have a good day ahead, dealing with our various responsibilities and tasks. Just try to find some time in all this noise to speak to and listen to our Heavenly Father’s voice as He speaks to us in the spirit!
