Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Give God Your Undivided Attention

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” -- 1 Samuel 3:10

One of the most profound things you will ever learn is this: The television has an OFF button. So does your cell phone. And your laptop can be powered down as well.

That isn’t what you were expecting me to say. I know. But it doesn’t make it any less profound. I really don’t know when we decided that we “had” to be available to everyone 24 hours every day. Because we don’t.

Now understand that I’m not talking about parents with small children. Obviously, they must be cared for. Same goes for those of us with other caretaking responsibilities. We must be reachable -- in an emergency.

My point here is that in order to hear God we must first learn to be quiet. And that is far, far harder than it sounds.

When I first started reading my Bible, I did so with the television on. Nobody told me not to. Besides, it was easier that way. I didn’t have to hear all the scary parts. I didn’t have to face myself, alone, with only God speaking His truth.

Then my life started disintegrating. A sudden death of a loved one. A job change. A cross-country move. And a shattering end to all my dreams. It’s funny how that works. When nothing is left, God is there. Every time. He meets you where you are, including the silence of a failed life.

The other day a young woman expressed her frustration at not hearing God’s voice. She’s seeking answers and guidance and still she hears nothing. Well, nothing except her cell phone and her facebook friends. She wants God to speak to her, but she isn’t yet willing to give Him her undivided attention.

We like to believe we can do both. We can’t. As I drive down the interstate or through different towns, I repeatedly see people who are talking on the phone. They are texting. They are distracted but they don’t realize it. They don’t see their speed slowing down. They don’t think they veered into the other lane.

We’re like that. We think we’re paying attention to God. We believe we’re totally focused on what He has to say. But we aren’t willing to give Him everything we’ve got, even for the short time it might take to really hear what He has to say.

So turn off the television. Leave your cell phone in the other room. Forget the computer for a while. Find a quiet place, free from distractions (even if it’s your walk-in closet or the bathroom) and seek God’s voice. You’ll be amazed at what you hear when you finally give God your undivided attention.