Have you ever been in conversation with someone and it was apparent that they weren’t really listening? They were pretending that they were listening, they made eye contact, they nodded, but they were really meditating on what they wanted to say next.
I believe that this is how we often treat God. In my devotional time, I often begin with a chapter of Scripture and end with a time of prayer; yet the two are rarely connected unless the specific devotional exercise I’m engaged in is geared toward praying through a passage of Scripture.
This is what it looked like the other night:
Read Micah 2–
Contemplate the Meaning of the Passage for a Moment –
Wow, God is really angry with the way that the powerful are treating the weak. I should keep that in mind. This is also a great chapter to use in that curriculum I’m working on. The context of Judah’s sin during the kingdom and leading up to the exile is exactly what we are seeing today.
Pray about My Struggles –
Lord, my three-year-old’s tantrums have reached a whole new level. What the heck am I supposed to do with her? Help us to be better parents, to love well, etc…
Was that real communication?
Let me lay out a few points for us to ponder:
God in His sovereignty chose that passage for me at that specific moment. Sure, I ‘ve been reading though the minor prophets, and I put this plan in place, but He in His majestic ordering of all things chose for me to read it then – accounting for the days missed, nights I read a half chapter, and other devotional practices I jumped into when I wanted a change of pace. It was His word for me at 11:30 PM on November 20, 2016, and I wasn’t listening.
This is what it probably should have looked like:
Read Micah 2 –
Contemplate the Meaning of the Passage for a Moment –
Wow, God is really angry with the way that the powerful are treating the weak. Some basic questions I should ask of a given text include:
Prayerful Reflection –
Lord, you are doing a marvelous work in the hearts and minds of Your remnant. Thank you for the ways that You have done so in my life. I pray that all of that energy, excitement, and passion in my three-year-old will ultimately be channeled into breaking down gates to follow You. Lord, do a mighty work in her life and give me the wisdom, grace and care to be the shepherd she needs. Amen