Remember Martha? She lived a distracted life, and she didn’t even have Facebook or Twitter. In fact, Martha had Jesus Himself right there in her house—and still she busied herself without ceasing. Two thousand years later, one of women’s primary conflicts is still distractions, and they have multiplied far beyond what Martha ever imagined.
On most days, the average woman will Google, Twitter, blog, Face Book, text message and/or leave a voice mail (or two). We juggle laundry, housework, our church commitments, friendships, and errands. We taxi our kids to various sports events, lessons and birthday parties. And if we work outside the home, we manage to do all these things after putting in eight hours on the job.
I don't know about you, but I long to be a woman of purpose. I believe that we must not allow distractions to prevent us from hearing God's voice.
Today as I read in the book of Exodus, I realized that the Lord calls each one of us to turn aside and focus on Him in the midst of distractions. Moses did this very thing when he turned to observe a burning bush in the desert. As he led a noisy herd of sheep through the wilderness, he chose to turn toward the Lord.
It can't be easy to herd sheep. The shepherd must watch this one, keep an eye on that one, and keep the entire herd moving in the right direction. But Moses made a decision and turned aside from it all. And that is when God spoke to him. That is when Moses discovered his God-given destiny.
"And Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.' And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said..." Exodus 3: 3-4 (Amplified Bible)
When we choose to turn aside from the clamour and craziness of life to the One who burns for us with unrivaled love, God takes notice. This is when He speaks to us, revealing His plans and purpose for that particular time. This is a burning bush moment.
They key to experiencing burning bush moments is to possess an interruptible heart; one that longs to hear God - even in the midst of our busiest times. At the end of a visit with my sister in Michigan, I took her and her husband and little boy out to a "thank you" dinner. We sat in a packed sports restaurant with noisy fans watching the Detroit Lions on flat-screens all around us. When our dinner arrived God simply showed up--much to my surprise. I put down my fork and listened as He spoke to me about a situation that was of great concern. Yes, I was hungry. Yes, the restaurant was loud and distracting. Yes, my sister wondered why on earth I sat, eyes closed, with a steaming dinner plate before me. But I had a burning bush moment right there in the midst of it all.
How about you? Do you have an interruptible heart? This week determine to listen for God to speak amidst the distractions. You just might experience a burning bush moment.
10 comments:
I love this. I had never thought of how busy Moses was when he had his burning bush moment. I KNOW I need to work on having an interruptible heart. Do you think part of being interruptible is being expectant? Knowing He WILL want to speak to us and going ahead and keeping my ears and eyes continually open and ready.
Thanks for this reminder in the midst of my busy day! :)
Blessings,
K
Julie, this is so good. I'm reading through Exodus and just finished that chapter last week. I didn't notice the busyness of Moses, but God spoke to me that, when I FINALLY turn and look-He's been there all the time, waiting.
Yes, distractions keep me from looking. Blessings***
WONDERFUL reminder, Julie! I too often tell God "hang on just a sec"—and then that 'sec' doesn't happen. I let my kids interrupt me. I need to let God's interruptions be more immediate so I don't miss them. It used to be easier. I need to not care if it's easy or not.
Thank you for this wonderful post and reminder! I am praying that my heart is interruptable this week...as I desire a "burning bush moment."
Julie, this is so good! I read it yesterday, but with a baby in my arms I didn't take the time to comment. Your words did touch my heart though and God brought them to mind as I was up with that same baby through the night. Interrupt my heart a bit and changed my perspective from grumbling about my lack of sleep to instead enjoying the only time our house is quiet!!! I too had a burning bush moment as I opened my Bible to read a familiar story only to have Him speak through it in a whole new way!! Thank you!!!!
Love, Jill
Amen to this post, Julie! I'm shouting in agreement with you all the way from Pennsylvania! I love that God's always there to speak life to us no matter what the circumstance (or meal) that lay before us. :)
Be blessed!
It takes a lot of discipline to set the distractions and aside and focus on Him, doesn't it? Even as I do this, I find myself getting distracted in the midst of my time with the Lord. I read something recently about trying not to get down on ourselves about that very thing but just to recognize it and refocus. Good for you, Julie, for being able (and willing!) to do it in the midst of a noisy restaurant!
Julie,
What a great message. I have experienced what you have. In the midst of the chaos, there HE is. HE is not chaos, but, called to us from the midst of it all! Praise HIM!
Julie, this is so good! It's always amazing to me when and where God will choose to speak...when we are listening. Thanks for sharing this, reminding me to focus on Him even in the midst of the choas of life.
Wow! That is an awesome experience! I am a slow learner in how to stop and listen to God speak to me. I am right now in a prayer group that is based on ancient monastic meditation. It is called Lectio Divina (Sacred Listening/reading)
I am truly liking it very much, and perhaps one day, I will be able to have an interruptible heart even among noise and busyness.
Post a Comment