Recently a new trend has started in our home. I would love to tell you it is a good thing, but honestly it is frustrating me to no end. That trend has to do with the boy’s and when television is on. They will ask Lindsey and I for something, let’s say chocolate milk for example or a snack. I appreciative them asking and if we are able to we will oblige and get it for them. Here is where the frustration comes in though. “Eli, Silas, your milk is here on the counter.” Blank stares at the television. “Eli, Silas, your treat.” Nothing. Over and over, to the point I want to dump it out. It has gotten to the point where one of us will walk over and have to turn the tv off for them to acknowledge, and then we get the, “Why did you turn off our show whine?”
“Did you ask me for milk?” Yes. “Did I get it for you?” Yes. “Did you hear me say your name?” Yes. That is usually about when Silas will chime in, “but Dad my show was distracting me.” Exactly my point Bud, that is why I turned it off, to get rid of the noise.
How many times though are we exactly that way with God? Think about it. We ask things of Him in prayer. We go to Him seeking His voice to speak. And I truly believe He does. He provides. Yet we are so distracted by the noise that even though we may hear His voice, it just becomes part of the background noise in our lives. We allow other things to consume our thoughts, and some of them might literally be the tv, media, our phones that distract us. He has our “glass of milk” sitting right there in front of us, but our minds have been shaped and conformed to the world that we don’t see what He is doing in our lives.
Maybe today our prayer needs to be, “God please turn off the “TV” per se in our lives. Clear the distractions. Wipe out the noise. Let me hear your voice Oh Lord and not be caught up by the things of this life.
“Do not conform 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 NIV
Lord thank you in advance for hearing my cry, for answering my prayer, help me to see You move.
I know exactly where you are coming from! I think cellphones and tablets are great except when you try to get their attention, especially at the dinner table!! When I tell them to to put those things down you think I am talking a different language. Then the attitude comes! All I can say is “God give me strength “!