10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 ESV
Alcohol does not appeal to me. Drugs do not tempt me. Adultery is not an option. However, noise is a battle for me.
I am not talking about a rock band living next door or a train track running through the backyard. It is NPR, ESPN, Google Music. The 24/7 access to news, audio books, and music. This morning is a prime example. Before I spent any time alone with God, I had watched a few minutes of ESPN's Sports Center, an argument on MSNBC's "Morning Joe", then read 3-4 on-line articles on Yahoo News. Were any of these programs or stories "sinful"? No, inane maybe, but not inherently evil. So what's the problem?
For me they created both a literal and figurative problem.
Too often this summer these short morning forays into the world's noise have taken the morning time that should have been devoted to prayer and Bible study. The top ten sports plays superseded my a.m. quiet time. MSNBC trumped a blog post. While I am an early riser, I still only have a limited amount of time before work beckons. Choosing the cacophony of media over quiet time with God happens all too often.
For me a God first morning is also a mindset. Matthew wrote, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 ESV) I don't believe that Matthew was referring to first in a sequential time sense, but an attitude and preeminence in our lives. However, I have found that "first" also means before anything else in my day. First before game highlights, late breaking news, or highlights from around the world. A "minute" in front of the t.v. too often becomes "I don't have time for prayer" before work.
Noise is my weakness. Distraction my nemesis. Ear plugs need to be added to my Armor of God.
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