1 week Ago
I was remembering recently when as a young child, television arrived into our home, with programmes only in black and white, and with just one channel on a 10 or 12-inch Bush TV, if I remember correctly. What an explosion of colour and programming since then. Yet in the midst of all this, there is a risk, as with all this programming available, our television screens can take up so much of our time and attention, coupled with what is available on mobile phones as well.
At the same time, I read that as many as 70 per cent of us say we are lonely. Despite all this programming right there, we can feel alone, as the programmes don’t compensate for live conversation and other activities. I am reminded of the story of David Wilkerson, an American minister who tended to watch whatever was on television later in the evening.
Then God spoke to him and asked him to spend that time in prayer instead. That led to a trip to New York, then working with those caught in drugs and addiction, leading to the formation of Teen Challenge, a rehabilitation service now operating in more than 100 countries and very active in Inverclyde. Wow! All this came from a change in his viewing habits, and perhaps God is challenging you and me to spend more time with Him in prayer.
Who knows where that might lead to? I know what it will do is make you more sensitive to His voice and His presence and increasingly you will want to know Him and hear His voice changing, for good, parts of your life and encouraging you to pray for others. Prayer changes things and we are changed as part of that. I know of people whom God was able to wake up, often at night, and pray for individuals who were in trouble at the time.
Later they found out that was the case and the danger had been averted. Challenging but exciting. I wonder who needs our prayers these days, and I feel sure you could name them in your life.
It’s a call to pray more and see the results..
