Words are cheap...

Reading the other day in a narrative during my 2015 daily devotions, the author said 'don't lie to God' and upon reading further, he quoted someone as saying that 'we are lied to each day on average from 10 to 200 times'. The lies referred to here are largely those unthinking or superficial comments, which we make that help us to maintain our emotional space from others. I think the message they convey are 'I don't have time for you' or 'I'm more comfortable wearing my mask' when it comes to my relationship with you. For example, when you ask me 'How are you?' I will just say 'fine', when really, I don't feel well, or I am deeply troubled about something or you name it. The author cautions us that our words come from our lips and aren't necessarily connected to our heart, or 'The heart does not accompany the lips'. I think that this could also occur at a time when we are having quiet time with God, but we are distracted with other things as well.

In this present accelerated world we live in, we are often tempted to multitask during which time we are dividing our attention between two or more things. Not to dwell on this point, but a present-day example of multitasking could be driving your car while trying to read and respond to a text message on our smartphone. Needless to say, many accidents have been attributed to this type of multitasking and the resulting dangers are readily apparent. Or have you ever been in a discussion with one or more persons, who are also checking their smartphones for emails, sports wins/losses, weather forecasts, live updates for ongoing sporting events, etc? No eye contact, and at best, a superficial response, which could have just been them waiting for you to stop talking, so they could continue saying what they were saying before your words interrupted their train of thought? The message for all of us is to hone both our speaking and our listening skills. This would apply when we are with others and as well when we seek God in our quiet time. He too has something to share with us if we will quietly wait on Him.

On a side-note, during a recent sermon, my pastor held up a smartphone and a tablet, which are just two examples of things which have the potential to divide us and our families by distracting and interfering with quality time we should be spending with each other. And while a smartphone offers the advantages of a 911 call in an emergency, it could also offer unsupervised access to damaging influences upon young minds when parental oversight is absent. Let's just agree that these and many other things today potentially hurt the quality of life that God wants for us to enjoy.

All this to say, we should have heartfelt interactions with others that reflect a genuine, caring concern for those with whom we are interacting. It begins with an open exchange with others, including undivided attention, much eye-contact and a connected, discerning heart, which serves to guide first our thoughts, then our words, and most importantly, our actions.

LORD GOD, PLEASE LIVE IN ME TODAY, AND GUIDE MY EVERY THOUGHT, WORD, AND ACTION, BASED UPON YOUR WILL FOR ME THIS DAY. AMEN.