ListenDaily – 15 April 2010: Dealing With Spiritual ADD and the pest sitting behind you.
Thanks Diane. This Spiritual ADD idea rings truer and truer every time I think about it, and from the many conversations I've had about it, it appears to be epidemic -perhaps endemic.
So after two days when I've been so busy I haven't read email let alone written any (ironic, huh?), let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you didn't see it on Monday, it is explained below.
The first minute of the 1-2-3 includes asking God, audibly, out loud, "to remove Satan from your presence for this time".
How does this strike you? Is it a little weird for you?
Imagine that you are a third grade teacher, with a student who actually suffers from a disorder affecting his ability to focus. That's enough of a problem by itself, is it not? But imagine there is another child, who spends all of his time trying to distract the first. Pecking him on the shoulder, whispering, kicking him under the desk. There is no way the first child, already with an attention problem, could possibly focus! But if he really wants to do the right thing, he will ask the teacher for help, and a loving teacher will do whatever is right for that situation.
You cannot pay attention on your own
Ask for help.
I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8
If your prayer life improves, Satan is in trouble. He will do his best to distract you.
Ask for help.
If a loving teacher will do the right thing for a student, how much more will your loving Father do for you?
Questions:
1. First, I guess I have to ask if you believe in Satan?
2. If so, do you believe he works to distract people from God?
3. If so, do you have enough humanly resources to overcome him? Are you willing to try this1-2-3 experience to help?
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May we ask the only One who can help. Jim.
THE 1-2-3 CHALLENGE:
Starting today, and then first thing tomorrow morning, I challenge you to listen to God, with this five minute exercise:
1) Do this as soon as you wake up. Set your clock a few minutes early if that is what you need to get up ahead of the household noise. Lay your Bible by your bed as a reminder.
2) Go to the quietest place in your house, outside, your kitchen, your bathroom...wherever.
3) Pray for 1 minute that God would speak to you. Audibly, out loud, ask Him to remove Satan from your presence for this time. Ask Him to remove distractions and mental clutter. During this time, do not ask Him for anything else, do not thank Him for anything else, do not pray for anyone else (but please find another prayer time for all these things).
4) Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him.
5) Close your Bible and be silent for 3 minutes. Listen for Him. He may come as a thought, a nudge, an idea. For a while, He may seem hard to hear. There is so much clutter in our minds! Keep listening.
This may seem difficult. You will hear every creaking tree branch. You will hear every barking dog. But like Elijah's time in the cave, God is not in the tree branch, God is not in the dog. Persevere. Listen for the gentle whisper
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people.
Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
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