Have You Ever Put God On Mute?
This week in the Dispatch:
What constitutes “old” in Quick Hits
“Why We Sleep” in Books
The Awesome Marriage Podcast on Alcohol and Marriage
A special podcast with my guest Levi Lusko
Insights: Have you ever heard the voice of God?
Challenges to act on
A final thought as you set aside time to listen to Him
This Week’s Quick Hits:
I’m in a Fantasy Football League with my grandson Tommy (8th grade) and some of his friends. Let’s cut to the chase, my goal is to win this league! I’ll keep you posted as the season progresses.
So now the population we call Gen Z is putting the “officially old” label on Millennials who: ever owned VHS tapes, had a MySpace, left a voicemail, had CDs in their car, listened to the Jonas Brothers, played outside, used headphones with wires, or used stamps. There are more examples but I just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome the Millenials to the club of Gen X and Boomers!
Book:
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
I learned so much from this book on the importance of sleep from scientific expert Professor Matthew Walker. Sleep enriches our ability to learn, memorize, and make logical decisions. It recalibrates our emotions, restocks our immune system, fine-tunes our metabolism, and regulates our appetite. Walker also addresses many important questions about sleep: how do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? What really happens during REM sleep? Why do our sleep patterns change over a lifetime? How do common sleep aids affect us and can they do long-term damage? He also explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children, and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses. It is fascinating to read this from a Christian perspective as it is so evident how God designed us and our need for sleep. (Walker is an evolutionist and probably does not see how God’s hand and plan are all over his research.) This book has changed the way I look at sleep and given me new habits to integrate into my life.
Podcast:
Awesome Marriage Podcast
This week's topic on the Awesome Marriage Podcast is “Alcohol and Marriage.” Christina and I address the following questions and more: How much drinking is too much? Is it different person to person? Does it cause problems in your marriage? What are some red flags to look out for when it comes to alcohol consumption? What does accountability look like when it comes to alcohol? Should a spouse keep their spouse accountable? What happens when alcohol issues in marriages go unaddressed and unchecked? When someone is struggling with alcohol - where can they go for help? Most of us know someone who struggles with alcohol. I think you will find the podcast informative as well as interesting.
Bonus Podcast
Thinking Right So You Can Live Right: Interview with Levi Lusko
Our friend Levi Lusko joins me on this special podcast as we talk about his newest book Take Back Your Life. This book is a 40-day interactive guide that I am currently about half way through. I told Nancy after the first few days that I knew this book was helping me change the way I look at and think about so many things. In the conversation, we dig deep into the difference “thinking right” makes in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Don’t miss this special bonus podcast!!
Insights:
Have You Ever Put God On Mute?
Have you ever heard someone say, “God told me to say this” or “God told me to do that”? What did you think about this? Is the person talking about hearing an audible voice? Has God ever spoken to you? Did you feel the person was using this statement to bring about good or to manipulate to get their way? Would it freak you out if God audibly spoke to you?
In the tenth chapter of the book of John, Jesus says these words, “My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me.”(MSG) Let’s put all the above questions on the sideline and look at what Jesus is saying to us in this verse. First, His sheep are His people. That’s all of us who are Christians. As a Christian, His voice is there for us to recognize and His voice is different from the world’s voice. In fact, His voice is unique in all of creation and His voice is powerful. Don’t forget that He spoke all things into being.
My daily prayer life goes something like this. I pray in the morning. I use the ACTS formula of prayer, which I have used most of my life:
ADORATION: Praising Him and Who He is.
CONFESSION: Clearing the slate of anything that may stand between me and Him.
THANKSGIVING: Thanking Him for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me.
SUPPLICATION: Laying the things on my heart before Him and asking for His involvement.
Then during the day, I say quick prayers as something comes to my mind. Finally, Nancy and I pray in the evening before bed and those prayers can cover a wide range of things.
There are times when I feel so connected to God. Other times I feel distant and distracted. For me the key to hearing God seems to be persevering through those distant times. It’s daily prayer whether I feel anything or not. It is not about what I feel or don’t feel. It’s about Him and the truth that He is always there and He always hears my prayer but here’s my problem. He always hears me but I don’t always hear Him. It’s like I put Him on “mute.” I can’t hear Him on “mute.” Don’t get me wrong, I have never heard the audible voice of God but when I focus on Him and get rid of all the distractions in my life, I do hear Him but never when I am on “mute.” If I am praying about a decision or really anything that is important to me. I hear His answer. It’s in my heart and in my mind and I have no doubt what His answer is.
That brings me to the final words of this verse that says, “I know them and they follow me.” Jesus knows what is best for me - always - without exception. My role is to follow Him. My role is to listen. What about you? Do you hear God? What does He want to say to you? If you don’t know, what is standing in the way because I know He is speaking to you.
Challenge:
Have you ever heard God speak to you?
When do you put Him on “mute”?
What needs to change in your prayer life to make sure you can hear His voice?
Final Thought:
This week set aside time each day for prayer. Share with Him everything that is in your mind and on your heart. Then be silent. Put yourself on mute and listen to Him.
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