For me, it wasn’t actually the mythical Pandora’s box I closed, but rather the extremely popular music player. I loved being able to turn it on the morning and listen to my favorite music all throughout the day while I worked.

But a few years ago, God started convicting me that I wasn’t spending as much time as I should in the Word of God.

As I wrestled and argued with Him about my lack of time, the Still Small Voice reminded me that I did have free time available…..in fact, about 8-10 hours a day. You see, instead of listening to secular music, I could have been spending that time filling my soul with truth by listening to God’s Word.

In the beginning it was HARD. Work days seemed to take forever as I didn’t have the familiar strains of Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Michael Buble, my favorite soundtracks, and Jim Brickman and Company to keep me entertained. But God slowly but surely started to work in my heart. I noticed after a short while that I was calmer during the day and problems were getting solved a whole lot faster. I would get in a jam—and then all of a sudden, the solution would flash into my mind, seemingly out of nowhere.

But it wasn’t from nowhere.

As I pondered these amazing developments, God gave me the answer. In short, why should I be surprised that I was able to hear the voice of God….because I was starting to make His Word a priority in my day? My soul was being fed for hours and hours of time and because my heart was in tune to God, my spirit could hear Him much clearer.

One of the most wonderful benefits has been that I’ve seen God cultivate a hunger for His Word in my life. On days when I’ve not spent time listening to His Word, I feel an emptiness and a deep longing to hear Him. My only regret is that I didn’t take advantage of that untapped time sooner.

Things just haven’t been the same since I closed Pandora’s Box. And for that, I’m truly grateful.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17