The other side of distraction

September 6, 2008 · Filed Under spiritual hearing · Comment 

In my own experience with hearing God, I have found that it is very easy to become distracted. There are so many things in this world fighting for our attention. We are bombarded with hundreds of marketing ads each day. Companies spend millions of dollars simply to get your attention. “Buy our products!” Commercials, billboards, logos, advertisements, telemarketers, solicitations–they are everywhere.

Then, add to that what we feed our mind with on a daily basis. The average American spends almost 9 hours a day consuming media–television, movies, internet, iPod, music, computer games. Nine hours a day! Considering we spend 8 of our 24 hours a day sleeping, that leaves only 7 hours a day that we’re not consuming media. That’s amazing.

I think one of the key tactics of the enemy is to fill our minds with so much stuff that we don’t have time to listen. Think about how hard it is to just slow down, clear your mind and be at peace. I know for me, Mr. Adrenaline Junkie, it’s near impossible. Yet, God commands us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Be still.

Try it. Try being still after a hard day of work and stress. Try being still after watching some action flick or romance movie. Try being still when there’s bills to pay and work to do. It’s hard!

Just yesterday, I was playing this computer game called Combat Arms. (I’m usually not a gamer, but my son likes this game, so I try to spend time with him playing Combat Arms.) When playing this game, you’re in this virtual world, and images are constantly in front of you–soldiers, snipers, guns, explosions. And, it’s a real-time game, so we’re playing with other players all around the world. So, you’re adrenaline gets pumping.

Here’s what happened last night. I was playing the game at about 8 pm, a couple of hours before bed. After I finished playing, I shut off the computer and then sat down in my recliner to pray before I climbed into bed. But, each time I closed my eyes to pray, I would see those scenes–the soldiers, snipers from the game. So, I had to open my eyes to pray. But, I would forget and close them. Again, soldiers and snipers everywhere. It was very frustrating and distracting. How could I pray and be still when my mind was still in the game? I think the enemy has done a pretty good job of creating so much distraction around us.

Just to clarify, I’m not some anti-media person. Actually, it’s my profession. I’m a producer. I produce media. I believe there are some redemptive forms of media, but I think it all comes down to balance.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. How much media is enough? When do I cross over from media enjoyment into media gluttony?

2. What is my refuge, my safe place, the place I go when I’m stressed? Do I flip on the television to “veg out” for awhile. Soap operas, reality shows, news? What’s your escape?

3. Are you finding it harder and harder to dedicate time with God? Would you rather get up first and check your email? Turn on the television? Listen to some music? Fill your mind with something?

I encourage you to spend some time this week “being still”. God is waiting for you on the other side of the distraction.

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Intimacy with God

September 3, 2008 · Filed Under spiritual hearing · 1 Comment 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to sit down with a close friend of mine and listen to him share his own experience on hearing God.

Early on his walk of faith, his desire to hear God was strong. In almost every situation, he would ask, God, is this what you want me to do? Or, Was that you, God? Are you trying to tell me something? His mind was constantly on the lookout for a “word from God” regarding every area of his life.

I’ve wrestled quite a bit with this notion of knowing God’s will in every area of our lives. It seems almost impossible; yet there are numerous scriptures supporting this idea:

    “Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

    “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life” (Matthew 16:25).

    Even Jesus only did what he knew the Father wanted him to do: “I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19).

I also think about Brother Lawrence’s writings from 300 years ago, where he learned to “practice the presence of God” in his everyday life. He was able to achieve a profound intimacy with God.

I believe this is the life God has called us to, a life of intimacy with him. And not just, “Lord, bless this food” prayers, but deep, profound, soul-searching, mind-engaging conversations with our Father. I believe this is God’s greatest desire for us. It’s not about giving, serving, working, helping, and doing. It’s about being. Being a child of God. Being with our Father. Spending time with him.

After all, what’s the greatest commandment? To love God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our strength and with all of our mind. That’s loving God with everything.

My friend and I talked some more about this intimacy with God, and I could sense some cynicism in his voice. He had been wounded years ago. I could hear it in his voice. So, I asked him about it.

He went on to explain that what started out as a desire to hear God soon became a bondage, a stress. He would wrestle over every decision, every “word”, every situation. His peaceful prayer time soon became filled with pressure. He had moved from listening to straining and striving.

When he told me this, my first thought was, That’s the enemy. Think about it for moment. If the devil could do one thing and one thing only to cripple your walk with God, it would be to disrupt communication between you and your Father. It’s a common military tactic—the first strike of a successful engagement is to take out communications. With that gone, surely confusion and disorganization will follow. My friend agreed.

Just as God has a plan for your life, so the devil also has an evil plan for your life. He does not want you to hear God, so he will take you to one of two extremes:

1. The devil wants to take you to a place of frustration, like my friend, where hearing God becomes full of pressure and stress. And who wants pressure and stress? It’s just a lot easier not to listen.

2. Or, the devil will convince you that God doesn’t speak at all. Cut the communication cord early, before it even has a chance to work. Sadly, this is where most believers are today.

God has great plans for you, and for you to live out those plans, we must hear what they are. I encourage you, today, to listen. God is speaking.

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