Tag Archives: listening

Every Minute Counts

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By Steve Fair from UK (IMG_5001 Uploaded by Miaow Miaow) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

At the Olympics, we saw a whole succession of people who were making every second count.  From athletes who had used their time of training effectively to arrive at peak fitness to people making the most of every moment of their being some part of the event – cheering, dressing up, making banners and generally entering fully into the spirit of the games.

Making every minute count – how do we do that in our lives day by day?

Ephesians 5:15-20

15 Act like people with good sense and not like fools. 16 These are evil times, so make every minute count. 17 Don’t be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. 19 When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. 20 Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.

Oh how I long to act like a person of good sense, to not do the stupid, hurtful, unnecessary things it is so easy to get caught up in; to not waste time on the things that actually really don’t matter.

How to make every minute count?  By finding out what God wants us to do, understanding what he is asking of us.

And how do we do that?  Well, the suggestion is to meet together and to worship God.  For in worshipping God we “touch base” with him, and allow him to touch us.  As we focus on all he has done for us and give thanks, we become in tune with him, and then we will get closer to him and hear what he is saying to us.

How, today, where we are, can we make every minute count?  Make every minute God’s?

Lord,

I so want to make my life count for you;

to not get caught up in things that don’t matter,

or are foolish.

I come

and spend time with you,

praising you,

thanking you,

and seeking to hear your voice.

May I quiet my heart,

and the loud voices within me,

and hear you…

– that my actions may be the ones you are looking for

Hearing the Voice

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Sometimes you need to hear something said out loud.  We may well, suspect it, but you need to hear it put into words.  There is something about a thought, expression or understanding being verbalised that makes it concrete and real.

And who isn’t waiting to hear those words,

I love you, and I’m proud of you?

The Baptism of Jesus

9About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptised him in the Jordan River. 10As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. 11A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”

  Jesus and Satan

12Right away God’s Spirit made Jesus go into the desert. 13He stayed there for forty days while Satan tested him. Jesus was with the wild animals, but angels took care of him.

  Jesus Begins His Work

14After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God.  15He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here.  Turn back to God and believe the good news!”

Attribution: RIA Novosti archive, image #842747 / Maksim Bogodvid / CC-BY-SA 3.0

You are the One I love, you make me very glad (Tom Wright, p12)

The words of God to Jesus – his voice saying what Jesus, John and those gathered needed to hear.  Verbal confirmation of what they were beginning to suspect.  Yes Jesus is God’s son, yes this is what he’s been talking about for years, yes the new thing I promised is here.

Mark wants us to hear the voice of God at Jesus baptism (p12) – but not only then.  Are we open to hearing God’s voice day by day?  As we set aside time and space during Lent, are we expecting to hear God’s voice?  Are we listening for it?  Will we respond when we hear it?

For as Tom Wright points out, “Those who hear this message, must also hear another one”.

‘Turn back’ – turn back from doing things your own way, from organizing your life according to your own hopes and whims.  If God is becoming king, and if Jesus is being installed as the human king through whom God’s kingdom is now happening, the only appropriate reaction is to abandon our own little hopes and schemes, and let God be God in our lives. And through our lives. (p 13)

God is speaking.  What is he saying to you?

Thank you God

that you speak to me.

That you speak words of reassurance –

and words of challenge.

May I hear your voice,

your word to me,

and respond

This year, I am again following the Big Read using Tom Wright’s Lent for Everyone – Mark.  I’ll reflect here – if you’re following it too, or even if you’re not, please share with me.