Recently, hubby and I purchased a new car. Before that, I drove a Ford Explorer, which I loved, but now that it's mostly me and the dog tooling around, it seemed pointless to drive such a big car. And gas? Sheesh, nothing like watching $70 drain out of a tank, right?
So when the Explorer got to be of age, I determined to find a car with better gas mileage, but it had to be sporty and big enough to accommodate Bruiser, our full-figured Golden Retriever.
What do you think? Isn't she adorable?
I could ramble all day about the features. Heated seats, shiftronic capability (the ability to switch between automatic and stick~don't get me going on that!), great gas mileage, and ...
An electronic digital display estimates my average miles per gallon. What?? Do you know that you can boost your gas mileage by taking your foot off the accelerator, just for a minute, or shifting into a higher gear? Well, I am all over that! That's why I got the car, right?
So, instead of focusing on the road, I honed in on that blue line, getting all giddy as it edged closer to 50 mpg. I mean, really. How cool is that?
But then a honk would get my attention. Or moseying off the side of the road...
We do that with God sometimes, don't we? Allow distractions to take our gaze off Him?
Forgot the birthday gift for the party this weekend. Basketball practice tonight, and the kid can't go without new sneakers. (OK, well that's not on my list anymore, but it may be on yours!) If the laundry doesn't get washed soon, you'll be out of ____(you fill in the blank!). If the lawn grows any higher, you'll be killing snakes. A forgotten blog post won't write itself.
Sometimes God gives us a gentle nudge to draw us back to Him. Other times, we may need something a little stronger. But, get our attention, He will. One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 26:3 (NIV):
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you."
Perfect peace sounds great to me. What about you? But my focus, my mind, needs to be honed on Him, not on the constant clamors for my attention.
So what to do...what to do...when all I can hear is the constant hammering of voices and chores calling my name?
"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart
and shattered the rocks before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire came
a gentle whisper."
1 King 19:11b-12 (NIV)
That's where God is. That's where I'll find rest, that perfect peace...in the quiet times spent cuddling on His lap, leaning closer to Him, listening for His sweet, gentle whisper.
Oh, Lord, when the world's loud and all I can think about is how much I haven't done, help me keep my focus on You. Help me to always seek You, to meet with You, to be open to Your priorities for my life. Don't allow distractions to take my gaze off of You.
Bless my words, Oh Lord, both spoken and written. All the glory belongs to You. Amen.
Labels: #devotional, 1 Kings, Bible, burdens, clamors for attention, distractions, earthquake, fire, God's whisper, Hyundai, Isaiah, peace, perfect peace, rest, Santa Fe, weary, when life screams, whisper, wind
