I was reading my Bible this morning. Or rather I was clinging to my Bible this morning like a life preserver. Why? Because from the moment of waking I felt the weight of my unknown future looming before me.

I felt the questions such as, “Why would you quit a job with no prospects of money?” ” How are you are going to pay your bills?”and

the condemnations, “Your family will starve because of your poor choices.” “You will make God look bad because you didn’t understand what you were supposed to do!”

I needed a word and I needed it quick. I grabbed my devotional Bible and prayed for a word, opened it and read the following

“They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!”

Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!”

The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out. (Mark 1:22–26, The Message)

Interesting the immediate thought that popped in my head took me back a bit as it was from a show I have never seen ….more on that later.

First it is important to note that Jesus had just taught something in a way that the people could grab a hold of. It was going to change them and the enemy did not want that so he tried to change the subject.

The enemy wanted to get their mind off of what they had just learned.

That is how the enemy works. He likes to fill our minds with garbage, to distract us from the goals that God has for us.

 But I learned a lot from Jesus response. He did not try and reason with the voice that screamed loudest he simply said, “Quiet! Get out of him!”

And the voice that rushed to my mind…

the strange pop culture voice from the past that I heard was the voice of the somewhat creepy clown from In Living Color that said “Homey don’t play that.”

I just thought that is the way I am supposed to be when the voices come that try and distract me from trusting what God has in store for me. I am supposed to be like Jesus and tell them Quiet.

I waste so much time allowing the voices of fear and doubt and discouragement, to distract me from focusing on what matters.

To distract me from what God is teaching me and where He is leading me.

So the next time those voices threaten to fill my head, and waste my days, I will say louder….”BE QUIET!”