Think about it!

Doesn't it seem that the more technology we have, the busier and busier we are? Things and gadgets that should make our lives easier and free up our time seem to, instead, suck it out of us.  One of the things I believe people did more of long ago was sit and think. How often do you just sit down in the silence and think?  I mean without TV or music or a book or even conversation? Just you and God. If I were to answer honestly, I'd have to say, hardly ever.

Yet there are some things in life that we need to stop and think about, that the devil doesn't want us to stop and think about, like Who are we? Why are we here? Is there a God? What is the purpose of life? Who am I really? What do I want out of life? How did all this beautiful creation come into being? What is important in life?  So many young people today fill the emptiness inside with constant chatter, twitter, facebook, ipods, ipads, tv, movies, always on the go. I fear for them because I don't believe most of them ever sit and think about what they are doing.

Yes God asks us to think:
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,  whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1

Before you click away thinking you already know you're supposed to meditate on God's Word, let me give you a slightly different perspective.  In Mark 8, Jesus miraculously fed 5000 men (Probably more like 15-20 thousand) with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  Later that day, he and his disciples get in a boat and head across the sea. But they had forgotten to take any bread so when Jesus warned them about the leaven of the Pharisees, they thought he was talking about bread. 

This is what he says to them: Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?  Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

He then reminds them how he fed the 5000 men.  This always made me wonder. What does the feeding of the 5000 have to do with their misunderstanding of  what Jesus said about Leaven?  Yet earlier in the story Jesus chastised them for the same thing. Remember when he walked out to them on the sea? They were terrified, thinking it was a ghost. After he calmed them down and got in the boat, the Scripture says

And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. 

Strange, isn't it? Yet Jesus seems to be trying to teach us something. I believe it's CRUCIAL for us to stop and really consider the miracles God has done in our life. Right when they happen. Boom. he provides when we had nothing. Boom, he takes away pain. Boom, he showers us with his comfort, Boom, he protects our kids, Boom, he answers a prayer we've been praying for years, Boom, he heals us. You name it. Whether we realize it or not, God is always doing stuff for us.  But how often do we even recognize it, let alone stop and really think about it, ponder it, and let it sink into our soul?  And what would happen if we did that? 

I bet our faith would grow by leaps and bounds! I bet we'd trust God more. We'd see Him at work all around us. We'd realize how much He loves us!  We would grow from baby Christians to mature disciples. Just like Jesus longed for his earthly disciples to do.  

So the next time you realize God is working in your life, stop!!  Ponder, think, pray, consider... and I bet you'll be happy you did!  




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