Today’s scripture: Luke 8:4-15 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
Do you take time to listen? When you pray, are you more about speaking out, or do you listen to what God is saying to you?
When I am coasting through life, and not paying attention, life can seem mundane; I can get self-absorbed in my own pity party. I don’t hear anything from God. I’m just trampling over myself, and all that I do dissolves into thin air because it has no meaning. I just become part of the machine of life that takes over people’s lives and gives rise to the bad attitudes and bad situations of everyday life. What’s the purpose? What’s the big deal?
And so I try to listen more keenly. There is so much religion out there. It is hard to know what to believe, or if it is the right thing. Who’s right? I think I got it God. I think some of it is taking hold. Some say that I need to see myself as a bad person, a sinner, never something good. I look at myself and I don’t like what I see. God, I want to be grateful for all you have done for me, but the messages I hear from religion is that even though Jesus may have died for my sins, life is bleak. I can’t have fun. Let the misery continue. The structure falls. It makes a loud “thud” like a rock when it falls, or when a rocks sinks to the bottom of a river. God, I can’t hear you.
God I think I hear you, but there is so much competition. There are times I put all my energy into things that I think matter, but I know that in the end they really don’t. My focus is making more money, having more things, gaining more status and power, and having the most stuff. This is all for three in one: me, myself and I. Am I listening to God in all these endeavors? Or do these kinds of treasures feel like the thorns of life, poking at me, telling me to keep going after these temporal things. It becomes prickly like a thorn, reminding me with each jab of all of the things I want out of life just for me. Am I really listening to You, God?
But God, what if I decided to listen to you? What if I chose to not let the winds and words of the world take me down, but to focus on You? Jesus, be the light of my life so I can be a light. God, plant in me your Word to be the best you created me to be. Help me to hear your Word; not what someone else tells me is your Word. When I really listen to You, and chose to listen, it sticks; Your grace, Your love, Your righteousness. I want to know who You are, and I want to know who I am in you. Help me listen. Help me grow.
Thought for the Day: Just listen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.