GODPHONES

Originally written April 3, 2014– some content may be dated but the message is timeless.

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Do you own headphones or ear buds?  If you have a Smart phone you probably use a blue tooth device with it, right?  They are wonderful.  You can talk on the phone and still use your hands.  I like that, because you know, as women, we can multitask and get so much more done.  My mom and dad have a set of headphones.  They use them to watch the TV and they are the good kind that covers the entire ear.  When they have them on, they don’t hear anything except what is being said on the TV.  It sure makes our home a much quieter one – lol!  Their headsets have all the fancy settings on them so it can sound like surround sound or more bass or more tenor… kind of like the settings on a nice stereo.  They are wireless and work off of a wireless bass.  You can walk around the house with them on and never be disturbed by any noise except the TV.  If I have anything to say to mom or dad, I go and stand in front of them until they remove their headset so they can hear me.  Just like I do even when they aren’t wearing their headsets because they don’t hear very well… I go to where they are and get their attention and then talk.  Otherwise, they would not be able to hear me at all! 

I use a small headset at work and the earpieces don’t really cover up the entire ear … I guess they would if you have very small ears, but my headset just rests on my ear.  They do pretty good as far as allowing you to hear the customer that is calling, but they don’t really block out all the background noise, and where I work, there is a lot of background noise sometimes.   I wear glasses and sometimes, because the headset rests on my ear, my ear begins to hurt a little.  I remove my headset from one ear and put it just in front of my ear, kind of on the temple of my head.  My ear feels better but that lets in more noise. So, I can’t leave my headset off of that one ear for long if I don’t want to be distracted by the background noise.  So… I have found that I can use ear plugs and still use my headset and actually be able to hear the customer quite well.  This works really good on those very busy days when there are a lot of us on the floor – all talking at the same time.

You know there is a comparison coming, right?  Well, of course there is.  To me it is like listening to God.  If you want to really hear Him clearly and without a lot of background noise you have to put your God Headphones (Godphones) on and clue in to His voice.  The link associated with the previous statement…
“clue in to His voice” … will take you to a some sermon notes from Charles Stanley that explains his view on listening for God.  There is also a link here… that has 76 scriptures that talk about “Listening to God.”  This is so vitally important in a Christian’s life to tune in to God and listen!  Two of my favorite scriptures (in that list referenced) are … John 10: 27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” And Psalm 25: 4-5 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

Sometimes following God is not always easy.  It can be a bit trying at times and when (not if) you get tired sometimes and want to take your “Godphones” off just a little, the outside noise of the world floods you with all sorts of distractions! Jesus Himself told His disciples this life would not be easy in John 16:33. These distractions can be very subtle or blast you out of your seat and everything in between.  The distractions of the world will overtake you if you keep your Godphones off very long.  Some distractions could be simply … you are too tired to get up and go to church, or I can’t read that scripture because it brings back too many memories that may not be pleasant, or that movie that you really want to see again… but it really isn’t one that is encouraging or uplifting, it is downright vulgar and debasing.  Another way the world distracts is so subtle and it is misconstrued as “sharing” when in fact it is truly gossiping.  You heard something about someone, and you just can’t wait to tell someone else about Sally Jo and her problems she is having with her husband, or kids or… you know what I mean.  And one of the most damaging ways is to listen to the smooth, soft, complimenting words of that “friend” (that is the man or woman at work or at the grocery store or anywhere you see them regularly), that truly should be saying “those” words and phrases to “his” or “her” spouse or girlfriend or boyfriend… and not you.  And you should be wanting to hear them from your spouse or significant other and not another man or woman – any man or woman.

The other part of that scripture about having trouble in this life is my favorite… Jesus says “…But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  Praise God that Jesus has Overcome The World!  Yes, He has overcome the world!  He is I Am!  Check out one of my favorite songs from Mercy Me – You Are I Am.

There are so many ways that the world (Satan and his lies) can distract us.  In 2 Corinthians 4:4, we are told that the lord of this world (Satan) is a deceiver!  If we don’t keep those Godphones on and connected to God, we can so easily get distracted and pulled away and before you know it you are right in the middle of a problem that you wish you had never stepped in to.  I speak from past experience.  I know how easy it is!  I know the pain of waking up in the morning and wondering “why in the world did I do that?”  Or as soon as the words leave my lips, I think… “why did I say that?”  It is human nature… and yet, I believe that we have a soul that is shaped by God and if it doesn’t have God in that shape, it causes us problems.  It’s like putting a square peg in a round hole.  It just doesn’t fit and is frustrating to keep trying to make it fit.  So, we must keep those Godphones on and listen for His voice and His direction and His will. He loves you so much and He wants to talk to you.  He is waiting to hear from you. It takes some practice to listen for His voice.  You might just have to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10) and you are not.  You can do it! Just keep trying.  He really is waiting to hear your voice, or thoughts of Him.  Yes, He knows your thoughts.  He loves you so much!  After all He calls you His beloved.

Leah,
Le**@My*******.com