ListenDaily – 11 May 2010: Easy as 1-2-3? Yeah, right...(An admission of failure)
Let us continue the 1-2-3 challenge. In case you're just tuning in, it's explained below.
I have been really busy.
Crazy busy.
Way too busy to write. And on some days, to busy to do what I have been asking you to do.
I don't mean to be hypocritical. God knows the intention of my heart, and, He knows the failures of my flesh. I'm not the first person to struggle in this area.
The second minute of the 1-2-3 says: "Open your Bible and read for 2 minutes. This is God talking to you through His Word. Listen to Him."
He showed me a few things in His Word this morning:
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3
Focusing on God may not be easy -- but it is right. (Luke 10:38-42 )
Transformation is not easy -- but it is what God commands us to do. (Romans 12:2)
Our attempts to draw close to Him will be met with setbacks and stumbling blocks -- but we will become stronger and more able. (James 1:2-3)
Questions:
1. Have you tried the "1-2-3" (or something similar)? Did you suffer setbacks? Did you quit?
2. Are you willing to press on, or re-start?
3. What is your greatest need and biggest hurdle in this area?
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May we persevere. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results." Reuben Archer Torrey
"It was always about mere questions that the Pharisees were so busy." Johann Albrecht Bengel
"The pharisees minded what God spoke, but not what He intended....They were busy in the outward work of the hand, but incurious of the affections and choice of the heart. So God was served in the letter, they did not much inquire into His purpose; and therefore they were curious to wash their hands, but cared not to purify their hearts." Jeremy Taylor
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
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