Instant Gratification and Hearing God’s Voice...

We live in a world of instant gratification. A world where we are bombarded by advertisements, texts, instant messaging, and tv shows that cover a lifetime in 22 minutes. We have cliff-notes that help us study without having to read the books, reviews that help us decide if we go see a movie, and product reviews that help us make wiser purchases. We have call-in doctors who diagnose our ailments without being face-to-face, and we can drive our cars to pick up groceries, medicines, fast food, pay bills, and get money without ever leaving the car. We can go on-line, get on a plane, and be in paradise within the day. All of this has created a less acute ability to focus. Our attention spans are about 30 seconds or less now. We will be in a conversation and instantly lose focus with the sound of a text, email, or phone call. All of this has weakened our senses. We wonder why we can’t hear the voice of God. Or why others don’t follow God anymore, because they think His truths are foolish. What we need is to focus; focus on His Word. There’s a signal still being transmitted by God; it’s called truth. It just a matter of being more proactive than reactive. It’s a matter of disciplining yourself to decipher the signal from all the noise. The more we listen, study, and meditate on God’s word the more impact it will have in our lives. The more we train ourselves to see spiritually, the closer to God we will become. Ask Him today, to open your eyes and ears, to tune them to His voice and His Word. Then you will begin to understand more and more as His nearness to you drowns out all the useless and senseless noise.

21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”24 Then He added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given–and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:21-25