Another one for me is: open the computer to email, not to check my email, but just in case daughter #3 calls in from Sweden. #1 lives in California (two time zones away) and #2 lives in New York (one time zone away), and naturally I love talking with them just as much too. But the baby of the family had to move SEVEN (count ‘em, 7!) time zones away, so communication is a little more challenging if you want some face time.
It’s a bit ironic, because I’m not one to be constantly connected to my “devices”, (I was about to write “phone”, but that term is no longer sufficient, is it?) My texting notifications are usually turned off, I’m rarely on Facebook, and I’m doing well to check email a few times a day…if I feel like it.
In other words, if I’m really intentional about communicating with God, I will keep the notification setting turned ON. And the volume turned UP. Because it’s not just about me talking to God (or at God, as it sometimes comes out), but more importantly, listening to what He’s trying to tell me.
John Eldredge has an important work entitled Moving Mountains where he writes about this specific thing. Dallas Willard has another, Hearing God. Obviously, the God who can create the universe can be quite creative in getting through to me. And He wants to, He’s designed His children to hear and recognize Him.
But it helps if I have the program up and running, and the volume turn on full.
1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Easier said than done sometimes, Oneta.
That is one of the reasons so few ever know the real joy of communicating with the Lord. Can he speak in spite of the TV and cell phones? Yes, but I would guess that he seldom does. For this wonderfully free gift, the price might be high, but never so high, it can’t be done.
So true. Thus I love the name of your blog: Seeking divine perspective!
Super good point, and prayerfully recognized. I’m thinking of things like toxic relationships, unnecessary distractions. Just who am I listening to?
Your comment here moves me also into the area of the things that satan does to jiggle our brains and our emotions. There are good reasons why the early church fathers (and our Lord as well) believed in demonic interference.
This post (and comment thread) suggests the feeling that I’ve come home from my summer wandering. I relate to the story so well, especially making hearing God – not only in that special time and place but in our souls our primary purpose. What a privilege. Good writing!