"Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’
To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
Yet in it there is no breath at all." Habakkuk 2:19
Having the ability to be connected to so much information and people every day can give us a false sense of truly knowing others. The ones that are in front of us can quickly become the ones in the background as we stare at a screen "connecting." Hearts and minds of little ones and loved ones require cultivating and attention. Their struggles, hopes and laughter are real and they need someone to notice. Treating our devices as if they are almost living, breathing people who need tending too is causing us to neglect the precious gift of family and loved ones that God gives.
Taking the time to be fully present and turn off the devices and distractions is worthwhile. The distractions pass away and we adjust to not having them. Soon we see what we were missing in all of our false connectedness. Connecting with those God put in front of us is one of the greatest callings He gives us. A life lived in constant posting and scrolling passes away in futility. It provides a false high that fades away quickly but soon calls us back for more. It never satisfies, it never provides, and it doesn't breathe. Living a life in the high of constant connectedness is not life giving.
A life lived in the present moment with all it's difficulties and joys, does not pass away. Being fully present---not avoiding the things that we want to avoid in our daily life---means that we will also open ourselves up to the refinement that comes from the Holy Spirit. His voice will become soft and noticeable. The distractions that called us away from hearing His voice are gone and His voice remains. Getting away from the frantic pace of screen connect gives way to the gentle pace of the Holy Spirit and His life giving ways. The internet gives a false sense that life must always be breaking news and exciting. The latest videos and headlines bombard us into a sense of hyped up, excited living. This is not true joy. True joy comes from the lasting deep down love and holiness that is God. Joy is when we no longer rely on a machine to give us life and a sense of security, relaxation and excitement, but we rely on the living and everlasting God.
There will never be regret that we spent too much time with people we love, investing in their hearts and loving them. We will not look back and regret turning off computers, phones and ipads. There can be regret that we spent too much time with machines and too little with those alive in front of us. Hearts need tending too and often the disruptions of human emotions and moods are opportunities God brings to minister and love those around us. They are not disruptions from our screens and the "fun" we want to have, they are opportunities for the love of God to be shown. Viewing disruptions as opportunities and asking God to guide us in His will brings peace to the heart.
A life lived in the present moment with all it's difficulties and joys, does not pass away. Being fully present---not avoiding the things that we want to avoid in our daily life---means that we will also open ourselves up to the refinement that comes from the Holy Spirit. His voice will become soft and noticeable. The distractions that called us away from hearing His voice are gone and His voice remains. Getting away from the frantic pace of screen connect gives way to the gentle pace of the Holy Spirit and His life giving ways. The internet gives a false sense that life must always be breaking news and exciting. The latest videos and headlines bombard us into a sense of hyped up, excited living. This is not true joy. True joy comes from the lasting deep down love and holiness that is God. Joy is when we no longer rely on a machine to give us life and a sense of security, relaxation and excitement, but we rely on the living and everlasting God.
There will never be regret that we spent too much time with people we love, investing in their hearts and loving them. We will not look back and regret turning off computers, phones and ipads. There can be regret that we spent too much time with machines and too little with those alive in front of us. Hearts need tending too and often the disruptions of human emotions and moods are opportunities God brings to minister and love those around us. They are not disruptions from our screens and the "fun" we want to have, they are opportunities for the love of God to be shown. Viewing disruptions as opportunities and asking God to guide us in His will brings peace to the heart.
God calls us to live fully in the life He has given us. The difficulties, imperfections, less than ideal circumstances, human flaws---these are all ways God teaches us, grows us, challenges us and refines us to become holy. They are not something to escape from, but something to embrace and in the embracing we lean on God in a new way and trust in Him. He makes us more like Him as we are connected fully to the life He has given us. There is joy, beauty and life right in front of us if we take the time to remove the layers of the unnecessary, the blinders in our life--- to be left with what is truly life giving.
"Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” Ezra 10:4
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
Prayer: Lord, help me to connect fully in the life you have given me. Remove my distractions, the ones that blind me to allow me to see only you God. This life can layer and layer distractions so thick that we can no longer hear or see you God. De-clutter my distractions and machines that do not have life and show me the ones who are living that I can invest in, show me your life giving ways. Amen.
"Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” Ezra 10:4
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
Prayer: Lord, help me to connect fully in the life you have given me. Remove my distractions, the ones that blind me to allow me to see only you God. This life can layer and layer distractions so thick that we can no longer hear or see you God. De-clutter my distractions and machines that do not have life and show me the ones who are living that I can invest in, show me your life giving ways. Amen.
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