"Satan's chief weapon is to steal away the Word of God from the hearts of our children."
Listen to Adrian Roger's sermon "The Moses Principle." Although Dr. Rogers targets pornography in this message, keep listening, what he says can be applied to a larger range of distractions that we allow in our lives and in the lives of our children.
Be bold. Make a Choice!
Showing posts with label On Tuning Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label On Tuning Out. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Turn it off.
Permit me a moment to implore you to turn off the media in your life.
So much has changed in my life since I unplugged in 2006.
Let me be blatantly honest with you. The changes in me began when I turned off the TV and picked up the Bible and really started searching what I believe, what the Bible says, and truly surrendered myself to the message of the cross.
Now I don't have it all figured out. I'm a work in progress, to be sure.
But do you know how hard it is to listen, how hard it is to think your own independent thoughts, how hard it is to seriously consider Philippians 4:8 when surrounded by the din and banging gong of this constant chatter?
It did nothing but take away my attention from eternal things and place the importance on me and my power and my needs--which only stirs up fear and discontent as I'm hopelessly lost on my own. It confused me on the particulars of God's word and His commands. It deadened my conscious. It so quickly became an idol. It convinced me of all the things I needed to consume, to buy, to own and sent me chasing down rabbit holes for dross and chaff that is so easily scattered to the wind.
And I was hoodwinked into believing that it wasn't so. I was so distracted I had lost any discernment and I didn't even see it.
I am very sensitive to the tv now. I'm agitated by the constant moving pictures and the short 15 second sound bites. I'm bored with it and I don't find joy in it. I realize now how I so readily found humor in sin and willingly invited it into my home.
I will admit that this isn't for the faint of heart. It's hard at first. It takes time to figure out what to do instead. It took time to ease the meaningless restlessness that was constantly stirred up in my mind and to be comfortable in silence. And it took time for me to get used to the blank looks when others would try to fill me in on a particular show and I tell them I don't watch tv and then being forthwith left out of the conversation. (Granted this is my choice, but it still took time.)
I'm not saying I have all the answers now, or that I'm suddenly wise and all-knowing, or that I have this all perfect. The kids watch more movies than I'd like and we're in the process of culling our inventory to be more God honoring. But we're questioning with greater intensity the messages that we bring into the house and what we allow our heart to meditate on. We're being purposeful in our choices and trying to measure everything against God's word. And I personally feel I've freed my mind and my heart to find true rest in the Lord and seek His kingdom first.
Maybe none of this makes any sense to you. Maybe you're offended by it. Maybe you think I'm overstating things a bit. Maybe you think I'm nuts. Maybe you think you can have your cake and eat it too.
Maybe.
But if you have this underlying suspicion that you have business to be about that the TV keeps you from; if you're stuck at a place in your life and can't seem to move ahead and are ready for the next step; or if you're just plan tired like a rat on a wheel--try tuning out. I dare you.
So much has changed in my life since I unplugged in 2006.
Let me be blatantly honest with you. The changes in me began when I turned off the TV and picked up the Bible and really started searching what I believe, what the Bible says, and truly surrendered myself to the message of the cross.
Now I don't have it all figured out. I'm a work in progress, to be sure.
But do you know how hard it is to listen, how hard it is to think your own independent thoughts, how hard it is to seriously consider Philippians 4:8 when surrounded by the din and banging gong of this constant chatter?
It did nothing but take away my attention from eternal things and place the importance on me and my power and my needs--which only stirs up fear and discontent as I'm hopelessly lost on my own. It confused me on the particulars of God's word and His commands. It deadened my conscious. It so quickly became an idol. It convinced me of all the things I needed to consume, to buy, to own and sent me chasing down rabbit holes for dross and chaff that is so easily scattered to the wind.
And I was hoodwinked into believing that it wasn't so. I was so distracted I had lost any discernment and I didn't even see it.
I am very sensitive to the tv now. I'm agitated by the constant moving pictures and the short 15 second sound bites. I'm bored with it and I don't find joy in it. I realize now how I so readily found humor in sin and willingly invited it into my home.
I will admit that this isn't for the faint of heart. It's hard at first. It takes time to figure out what to do instead. It took time to ease the meaningless restlessness that was constantly stirred up in my mind and to be comfortable in silence. And it took time for me to get used to the blank looks when others would try to fill me in on a particular show and I tell them I don't watch tv and then being forthwith left out of the conversation. (Granted this is my choice, but it still took time.)
I'm not saying I have all the answers now, or that I'm suddenly wise and all-knowing, or that I have this all perfect. The kids watch more movies than I'd like and we're in the process of culling our inventory to be more God honoring. But we're questioning with greater intensity the messages that we bring into the house and what we allow our heart to meditate on. We're being purposeful in our choices and trying to measure everything against God's word. And I personally feel I've freed my mind and my heart to find true rest in the Lord and seek His kingdom first.
Maybe none of this makes any sense to you. Maybe you're offended by it. Maybe you think I'm overstating things a bit. Maybe you think I'm nuts. Maybe you think you can have your cake and eat it too.
Maybe.
But if you have this underlying suspicion that you have business to be about that the TV keeps you from; if you're stuck at a place in your life and can't seem to move ahead and are ready for the next step; or if you're just plan tired like a rat on a wheel--try tuning out. I dare you.
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