Has there been a time in life when you have removed some distractions for your daily activities (I.e. Social media, Television, phones)? What difference did it make? How could this make a difference in your faith?
In the early days of our relationship, my husband Taylor and I found that one of our favorite weeknight date activities was to cook dinner together at his house. We enjoyed trying out new recipes each week, and despite our limited culinary knowledge (prior to this, I had considered microwaving shredded cheese on tortilla chips “cooking”), most of the meals we prepared together actually turned out all right.
Even more than cooking together, what I really looked forward to was the time we spent talking and sharing a meal together, free from any distractions. Early on, we decided that any time we ate dinner together, we should turn off the TV and put our phones away so that we could truly enjoy one another’s company. These were simple adjustments for us to make, but they made all the difference in our ability to connect with one another during these times. We also began the tradition of praying together before we ate. We prayed for each other, for our families, for our friends and for the joys and concerns of our own hearts.
Just as Taylor and I were able to focus more fully on each other by removing distractions from the dinner table, I believe that we are also able to focus more fully on God when remove the distractions that muffle the messages he is trying to send us.
Psalm 46:10 tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God!” The first part of this line gives us simple, but clear instructions for how to receive the second part. When we allow ourselves to be still, to be free from the noise and distractions that present themselves to us constantly, we are able to better understand God’s infinite power, grace and mercy that he has poured out for us.
Growing still can seem almost unnerving to us in a time when we are constantly having our attention pulled from one thing to another, but I would encourage you to give yourself permission to set aside life’s distractions for a few minutes each and every day to pray and ask for God’s guidance and presence in your life.
Morgan Jones, Director of Small Group Ministry
