I’m sure I am not alone when I say that our initial waking moments of the morning bring with it a certain vulnerability. Something about those fresh and tender moments—before the chaotic rush of responsibilities takes place—lies a time of stillness for our souls. Our thoughts are free to roam without any distraction, and they tend to center on those things most near and dear to our hearts. The rawness of my early morning prayers are often accompanied by a quiet flow of tears, which seems perfectly natural to me considering my smallness amid God’s greatness; that He is mindful of even me. Perhaps this is the best opportunity of the day to “be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10)
Of course, joining alongside the morning mass of humanity that quiet time is quickly followed by a welcome steaming mug of hot coffee! After that, it’s off to the shower—but not before turning on the radio already preset to the Bible Broadcasting Network or at times, The Truth Network. Listening to Christian radio while getting ready in the morning (and throughout the day) has been a decades-long ritual for me. It’s that spiritual shot in the arm, it’s the renewing of my mind, it’s being cloaked with the armor of faith that we all need so desperately—especially now!
The other day while listening to BBN during my shower something happened to the radio that has happened to me a time or two before: the radio frequency begins picking up a nearby station simultaneously. If I really concentrated on only hearing the message on BBN, I was pretty much able to block out that other station, but it truly did take a concentrated effort, and I wasn’t able to maintain that thread for very long before it all turned to gibberish!
It wasn’t until much later in the day that I realized what a metaphor this is for following the Christian life. We find ourselves continually and simultaneously in the midst of two competing and colliding worlds—the natural and the spiritual. This remains the duality of our existence here on earth. Yet, if we have ears to hear, if we are to be faithful to God’s living Word, then we must make a conscious effort to tune out the message of the world that seeks to destroy us. It can be a daily battle that sometimes wounds and scars, but we already know the promise of triumphant victory that lies ahead of us!
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Grace and peace,
Wendy