Matthew 13:16-17 – But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (ESV)

Exceptionally strong winds in Nevada and Utah, USA, have caused large quantities of rolling tumbleweed to invade town, where it has congregated at fences, which provide a barrier to rest against, burying cars and other objects in the process. I found it fascinating to watch a video where large numbers of sizeable weed balls were using highways like huge bowling alleys, rolling down or across the main roads for cars to evade and avoid running into other cars in the process. It is somewhat akin to a large dodgems (bumper cars) with added peril.

It made me think about how the world and its influences just roll up against us and into our lives. They interfere with our walk and listening to God through prayer and our daily devotions. Fortunately, we have Jesus' revelation of truth in print to read.

I am sure that we all have our own characteristic bits of worldly interference to acknowledge. Favourites may be mobile phones, social media, websites, food, cars, houses, guns, television, or gossip. The list goes on.

I'd like to say that I set aside time for prayer and fellowship as I meet with others, but it is just not the same as being still before God on my own, with no one to influence my thoughts as I sit and wait and reflect upon what I see, after having read the Bible. All these influences and distractions roll up and press against the time I had set aside for being still before God, requesting help for myself and others, and then, having ticked the box, rushing into the day.

It is my birthday. I am another year older, so it is good to set myself challenges to keep my marbles rolling along to stop them accruing any moss. It seems, however, that I have misplaced my God-given cross somewhere on a pile of worldly stuff. In my haste to run into the day ahead, there has been less dialogue and more monologue. Praise God that He loves us, but personal worship involves our being still before Him!

Yes, Jesus loves us, and He allows us to serve Him in our different ways to reach others. Our service arises first from our personal love for Him to spend time aside in obedience. If it does not, then we are heading for trouble. That is one of the reasons that I like writing, because it forces me to listen and to be still before God to hear what He is saying.

As we get up, as we travel, as we wait for appointments, let us be still and listen for Jesus.

Prayer: Speak, Lord Jesus, for Your servant is listening. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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