Over Consuming and Under Communing

It’s not abnormal for summer to throw off our routines and rhythms that we have built in throughout the school year. Although we might be gearing up for camps or summer youth group activities, a lot of us struggle with being less consistent and less committed to our time studying God’s Word and praying throughout the day when there aren’t normal time blocks set up for us.

But if we’re being honest, a lot of us these days probably struggle with “feeling” a closeness with the Lord no matter what time of year it is. Now more than ever, we can feel like we have spent time with God by listening to Podcasts, seeing an Instagram reel, or reading a solid post from someone on social media without ever opening our Bibles or talking with God ourselves.

While it is a gift to live in a day and age where there is solid content readily available and accessible at our finger tips, we need to be on guard from not trading true communion with God for simply consuming content about God.

Better Is One Day

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 84:10 that “Better is one day in your (GOD’S) courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Can we truthfully say that? Have we personally taken the time to taste and see that the LORD is good (Ps. 34:8)  through learning who He is as He has revealed Himself in His Word, and spending time in prayer and talking to Him as our Heavenly Father?

Hopefully we are consuming solid content from trusted authors, speakers, and Believers who accurately teach who God is. But the clearest way to know who He is is by letting Him tell us through the pages of Scripture, not the words of a stranger through a screen. There is a time and place for listening to other voices, but the primary voice we should trust about God’s Word is God’s own through the Bible.

All of us are being discipled. But have we taken inventory to realize who is discipling us? If we’re not careful, we can easily allow other voices to tell us what God’s Word says instead of reading for ourselves what God’s Word says.

 In Psalm 119 the Psalmist says that he has stored up, hidden, memorized God’s word and kept it in his heart. Why? So that he wouldn’t sin against God. While there are many helpful, godly voices that are available and able to help us in our walks with God, none compare to the voice of God Himself as He has spoken to us in His word, and told us how to live in His world.

Speak Up Before You Speak Out

A mentor of mine in college used to say “Speak up before you speak out” to me almost weekly. Her point was before you “speak out” in horizontal ways, “speak up” vertically to converse with the Lord. This principle has a myriad of implications - when we’re lonely, when we just made the team we’ve been wanting to make, when family life is hard, when we need to make decisions but we don’t know what to do, when we have a great day at work - turn to the Lord fast and first before talking to anyone else about it. Through doing this, we strengthen the spiritual muscle of prayer and make output with God more important than the input of others. Rather than going to google, a streaming service, AI, or an influencer we admire to consume what their counsel, advice, comfort, encouragement, or sense of companionship offers, we need to commune with our Heavenly Father.

ENCOURAGEMENT

Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 6:25-34 not to be anxious about their lives. Why? Because our heavenly Father knows what each of us need. Feeling anxious? Commune with God.

 In James 1:5 we’re told that if any of us lack wisdom, we need to ask God for it because He gives generously to all of us without reproach. Unsure of what to do in this current or next season? Ask God and commune with Him about it.

Paul tells us in 1st Thessalonians that we should give thanks in all circumstances (1Thes. 5:18). Had an exciting day, enjoying the pool this summer, or just received good news? Commune with God and thank Him for it.

There are a lot of voices vying for our attention these days. But in a world where things often feel confusing, daunting, and overwhelming, the Psalmist tells us there is a way to become a person who feels like a tree that is planted and does not get blown away and tossed around by the currents of this world (Ps. 1). It starts with delighting in God’s Word and meditating on it day and night. Want to be that tree that is deeply rooted no matter what comes? Commune with God.