When I started to think about this weeks word, I had decided to keep track of the times I would ask someone to be quiet or wish it were quiet around me.
Apparently, this is an area in my own life where I could use prayer and repentance. Ever time I was looking for peace and quiet it was because I wanted to read an email or talk on the phone. It wasn't for quiet time with God or quiet time to read to my children or have a peaceful conversation with my husband. Nope. Every single moment was selfish and self-serving. Can't they just see I need a few minutes to do this? Shhhh
I have a friend that participates in the week we are suppose to turn off our television sets. She does it every year and has for almost 10, I think. Her biggest frustration is the quiet. By Wed night or Thursday, her entire family is looking for loud things to do. They are so use to the constant sounds in the background. I am not one to talk, if we are home the t.v. is on. She has become a pro at the week without t.v. that she now schedules an entire week of events and activities to avoid the frustrations that come from the silence.
It is easy to be consumed in the noise of our everyday lives. When we finally find a moment of peace it is hard to focus on prayer and relationships. Silence forces us to deal with the things we want to avoid.
May I challenge you to evaluate the times you need quiet in your lives. Is it self-serving? non-existent? Find time for quiet with your family and with your God. Don't be afraid of what you may find out in the peace and quiet.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (msg) The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
Please pray for Kim H this week.
3 comments:
Great challenge. I enjoy the quiet--background noise drives me nutty...but I still find myself not mentally quiet.
I think sometimes we assume we need to put everything aside to find time with God. God wants all of us, all of the time. Even our busy minds that get too loud, he can sort through the chaos.We too can do a better job of prioritizing when we let Him into those parts of our mind.
I praise God for those quiet moments where I can bask in his love and enjoy it. Even though I know his love surrounds me even when the noise has drowned out or diluted all the annointing of his presence, but I am blessed. Praying with my girls at night gives me a chance to hear their hearts, to teach them about a relationship with God and for me to find quiet with my family and my Lord. I also find that sometimes when the noise is drowning everything else, I must find peace and quiet. I ignore my phone, focus on God and tend to get caught up in his presence. It is such a blessing to be free enough to have control over noise and quiet to a certain extent. Thank you for your word today.
Blessings,
Heather
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