Too busy to communicate
 

          Here I was, in another restaurant, sitting with my wife eating our supper. At another table sat a family of 3, each one looking at their “I phone’s.” There was no talking, no communication between any of them, and even when the meal came there was little talking. Of course this made me think…I see a story here!

          The world today is much like that family. Busy with all the games and news and texting. Too busy to talk with one another and ultimately with our Father. See unlike talking with those in the world, and not getting anything out of it, speaking with the Father brings about peace and joy into our lives. Something that this world cannot bring to us. I have found that speaking with the Father enables me to conquer my fears and doubts. Talking with Him enables me to follow His path with a boldness and courage that no matter what, He walks with me even in the darkness of trouble and despair. Those of this world grope around in the darkness of their sin, thinking “How will God ever love me... look at me. I need to tighten up my act.” By not truly communicating with God the Father, this world is unaware of the tremendous love and grace and mercy that our Father has. We all know that Jesus died for our sins, but those of this world cannot understand that, they cannot comprehend the true meaning of that.

          Believers know though. Their lives have been transformed by His mercy and grace. They know of the love that God the Father has for ALL He has created because He allowed His Son to die, on a cross, to pay for our sins. Christ’s shed blood covers our sins; we appear spotless when we come before our Heavenly Father when we enter into His throne room to talk with Him. In my life, entering into His throne room stirs in my heart a wellspring of jubilation, of a euphoria of peace and joy. Something that I had searched for, for many years. Of course all that time I was of the world, groping around in the darkness of sin and despair just like everyone else. Seeking but never finding, listening but never hearing. But my downfall, my sinfulness, in my darkness, I fell into the pit that I had constructed for me. Yes, I dug the pit that I fell into. Like this family, I was involved with only me, myself and I. I did not communicate with others. I was too much “into my phone.” But, beauty came from the ash heap. I laid broken and shattered, in a heap that resembled mud and muck and despair. But here was the Creator of the universe wading through all of that to rescue me, lift me up, mend and repair what was broken. He carefully cleaned me up and put me back together in His image. God drew up my blueprint. He was the engineer and designer of all of me. And He showed me the gift that He had put in my spirit, leading and guiding me on how to effectively use that gift in order that His kingdom be known here on earth.

          Even though He had restored me and given me a gift, I still needed to study and learn to walk on His path, to travel along the road that He had set my feet on to walk. The road is paved, but there were still many turns to walk around and tunnels to go through. There were times when I did not follow Him and I lost my way. But with the Holy Spirit in my heart, my ears are in tuned to hear Him speak, and my faith enables me to know that I know He will never leave me. Communication is the key, because if I fail to speak, to ask questions, then I cannot effectively walk in His ways nor work as I need to in order that my life, and speech, reflect Jesus in my heart, mind and spirit. Daily prayer is our life line, if you will, to allow Christ to lead and direct us throughout our day. To use our gifts that, He has given to us as He wants, we must be in contact with Christ at all times. Through prayer, quite time during our breaks, right before bed. For many it is hard to “put down the phone” and I will be the first to admit that I find it hard myself. But we must because we do not want to be like this world because they are missing out on so much joy and peace. I, and fellow believers, know this and that is why it is so important to keep the lines of communication open. Non-communication brings only darkness into our hearts and leads us astray.

          Heavenly Father I pray now that whoever reads these words of yours written by me, that their hearts will be changed. That they will hear your knock at their door and that they open it. Allowing you to come in and set up your home there. And the Holy Spirit to also enter in and guide them in their walk, so that they will be a blessing to others that they encounter during their days. In Jesus’s name. Amen.