Give Your Soul Time to Catch Up

Daily Reading:  Luke 17

Scripture Focus: They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17.27)

Devotional Thought: "They are deep thinkers who take time to wrestle with the truths of theology," said my friend KJ of his pastor and professors at Olivet Nazarene University.  We lamented the fact that so little of that kind of thought takes place today.  We have too much to distract us.  With the explosion of information/communication technologies, people are in constant contact.  But, so much of it is only on the surface.  Our televisions, computers, tablets and phones provide a non-stop barrage of information (and distraction!). 

There’s nothing wrong with these things.  The problem comes when there is so much "noise" that we can no longer hear God.  And, it’s not just digital "noise."  Life itself – the effort it takes every day to keep the machinery greased and the wheels turning – presents distractions in abundance.  When do we have time for God?  It's especially bad during the Christmas season.  Can we "hear" the angels' song?

I once read an account of a group of Westerners on an expedition in Africa.  They had hired a group of African natives to cut their way through the savanna.  It was hard work and progress was slower than the Westerners expected.  After six days of arduous travel, the group was still a long way from their destination.  On the seventh morning, the Westerners arose and prepared to resume their journey, but the guides would not budge.  Nothing the Westerners said could get them back to their work.  Finally, the Westerners asked them why they would not resume.  Their simple answer: "We must give our souls time to catch up to our bodies."

This Christmas, let's give our souls time to catch up to our bodies.  Once again, may we pause to hear the song of the angels.

Prayer: "Silent night, holy night.  All is calm..."  Lord, help me to reclaim some silence for my life, that my soul may catch up with my body, that I may hear the song of the angels, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"  Amen. (Luke 2.14)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 141.1-10

1 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!

2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!

5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.

7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers!

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.