Any of my Facebook friends reading this may have noticed (if you missed my note) that i've been absent from the FB scene for over a week now. That's because i decided to 'give it up' for Lent this year. On Feb. 16 i posted a note on FB about Lent and why i felt the need for a 'time out' from our beloved FB.
You see, for me, FB had become a real time robber. I had become obsessed with checking in to see all my friends' latest statuses.... what if i missed something important?!? Like whose driveway was snowed in, or how productive my friend had been at housework that day... hmmm... not really life altering information. So, urged by the Spirit, i reasoned that my time could be better spent putting my own spiritual and earthly 'houses' in order.
To that end, i've been spending more time reading and pondering God's word. Last week as i prepared some food to take to the local 'soup kitchen' on Friday, i listened to a podcast of a favorite pastor from Leah's former church in Athens. The message was delivered on Sunday the 21st, which was the first Sunday in Lent. He gave a brief explanation of Lent and the various disciplines observed.
A quick summary of what he said follows:
The 40 day season of Lent has been traditionally observed in three ways by the Christian church
1. prayer & reflection on scripture
2. giving of alms - especially to the poor among us
3. fasting or some other form of personal sacrifice or denial
Sundays are 'feast days' and so are not included in the 40 days of Lent.
Question: Does God still speak?
Answer: well, yes.
BUT - many of us are too distracted by worldly things; We are not tuned in to hear His voice; we are simply not listening.
In order to hear God, we need to know what his voice sounds like; we also need to be able to discern the content of what is being said... does this 'sound' like something God would say...
Focus is key - getting rid of things that distract... like (for me) facebook.
Listening for God's voice & recognizing it is next
Finally, the two way communication of prayer involves not just my 'list' of requests but a time of silence to hear what God may want to tell ME!
It's easy to spell it out.... not so easy to 'be still' for me!
Pastor Paul had a good idea to keep me focused and listening for God's voice.... Whatever i have used for Lent as my 'denial' (ie: no FB) - whenever that denial thing comes to mind that's the cue or trigger to turn my attention to God - to be wholly available to Him! i like it!
The whole idea of giving something up for Lent is to create more space in my sloppy world for God-stuff... to be able to know Him more. I think this message was just what i needed to hear.
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1 comment:
I know exactly what you mean by time suckers. Facebook was one for me as well. I have to make a choice to not get on there as often as I was. I am glad to know you are finding other, more fulfilling, way to occupy your time. Reading is so much better for the mind and the soul than FB anyway. :o)
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