I’m still learning how to use my iPhone. Sometimes I want to scream in frustration and throw it out the window but at other times I’m really thankful to have it. Siri and I are becoming “besties.” She has revealed to me my lack of kindness and patience.
Recently I’ve learned something else.
My battery has been running down too quickly. A friend showed me that I simply had too many apps open and how to check this feature and delete them in order to conserve my battery. I didn’t even know this existed. By now you know I’m not techy. However with each tiny fumbling step I’m making slow progress.
As I looked at all those open apps clogging my phone I thought about my head. Often throughout my day I have too many apps open in my mind. Lists, multitasking, thoughts-some of which need to be sent to trash-and the sense of hurry, moving from one thing to the next. Most days I’m up early for a quiet time–a time set aside to be with the Lord, a time for prayer and Bible study. This time is crucial for me. Yet once I move from time alone with God into my day the apps in my head begin to pile up. It’s not intentional. Life is just full.
As this New Year begins I’ve asked the Lord to do three things in my life. One of them is to make me more of a listener. I want to listen to God throughout the day and not just early in the morning. I want to be sensitive to His gentle whispers, to praise Him spontaneously, to marvel at His creation, to really listen to a friend, to ask His wisdom before I blurt out advice. It is far too easy for me to race from one thing to the next without pausing to really listen to Him.
I need to close some mental apps and open listening ears. I’m not quite sure how to do this so I’m asking God to do this within me. To make me more sensitive to His presence in a deeper way throughout the day. To slow me down. To delete thoughts and plans that are not necessary. I want to respond to the Psalmist’s call:
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Learning my iPhone’s endless potential takes one step at a time. For me technology doesn’t happen quickly. There are so many more benefits of my iPhone that I’m not even aware exist.
Similarly learning to listen to God will not happen quickly either. I too will fumble step by step. But He is calling me and He will bring it to pass. Just anticipating the riches of His glory that I will experience is invigorating. He is truly the God of so much more.
Father, teach me how to listen.
“Faithful is He who calls you, He will bring it to pass.” 1Thessalonians 5:24
Jeanne says
this is such a great word picture of too many apps open draining the power!
and the listening part…I LOVE this! every year I ask God for a word to focus on….something about HIM, or my walk with HiM to focus on, and this year it was SILENCE….I admit, that scared me a bit….are you going dark, Lord? but I am so enjoying what I am learning about silence and the flip side of LISTENING this year.
blessings on you for the encouragement to walk daily listening to HIS voice.
Carol Jackson says
Thank you, Susan. Thanks to my daughter’s tutorial tech, I’ve mastered the iphone declutter technique, but am still learning each day, all day by Holy Spirit guidance to slow down to hear Him first and last. You are a wise voice in my spirit’s ear. Appreciate you and the wisdom He has given you thru years of “getting back on the horse” with Him. Love, Carol
Angela Dusenbury says
Susan-Thank you so much for this great reminder!! I need to have the “Listen Angela, and know that I am God” all across my desk top! You must have some techie skills though to come up with the “Listen Susan” picture on your I-phone. 🙂 That is so perfect for ALL of us in our tech-driven time. Love, Angela
Esther Plaster says
Oops that was my iPhone misspelling thugs – lol – I meant ‘part of our community’.
Susan Yates says
Thank you for being IN our community!!!
Love! Susan
Esther Plaster says
Thank you for your wise words – I know they are learned with a humble heart! And thank you for being such an amazing Patti four community!! You & John are greatly lived!
Betsy West says
What a wonderful and relevant article! I love your use of the iphone as a learning tool for our wandering and cluttered minds! I need to remember this every single day!
Susan Yates says
Thanks Betsy!
Let me know what you learn too!
Love,Susan