God Won't Compete With Your Xbox.

Hi and welcome to In Search of God. I'm your host, Deloris Johnson. Today's message is titled God Won't Compete With Your Xbox. Here we'll cover the following topics:

• How do we Get God In
• Down Time Choices
• Ways to set aside time

I want to start with some truths.

1. We are a busy lot. We have busied ourselves with a myriad of time-consuming tasks.
2. Because we are so busy... but we understand we need to carve out some time for ourselves, so we turn to entertainment, and there's a lot of it out there: movies, sports, concerts, food, and gaming. You could probably name others.
3. God won't compete with your distractions. Whether they are responsibilities or entertainment.

God is contemplated in still, quiet, meditative, reflexive moments in our lives. There are many examples of this in the Bible. In fact, the book of Psalm could be considered David's meditative thoughts about his life and relationship with God. When was the last time you had a still, quiet meditative reflexive moment? Although there are a ton of game consoles out there: Play Station 4, Kick... Just recently, my nephews — Jospeh and Samual, told me about this new one called Nintendo Switch. I chose to use Xbox for the title of this cast because the letter x is often used in mathematics as a variable. It's a placeholder that can be replaced with anything. In this case, we're using x as a kind of fill in the blank. The box, if you're in it, or in this case, engaged in it, can be like a closed-off room that keeps you from realizing other things need your attention. Your Xbox is anything that your so engaged in that it blocks you from seeking and hearing from God. And God won't compete with your Xbox. I'm not saying God can't Compete With Your Xbox, He simply won't. Think about this, any relationship required time and attention from both parties. God is always there, ready to be in a relationship with you. But if you're so busy that you can't take time to be present in a moment with Him... Well, we all know how those relationships go. He won't force Himself on you. It will get just harder and harder to see Him through your cloud of our business. We tend to put Him off, and then we get buried deeper and deeper in whatever it is we're doing. Then there are the downtime choices. Listen, you deserve a break after all the hard work you do. I know I do. We all need a good laugh, a distraction, a little R&R. We look at the Bible and say, "later," because we look at it like yet another obligation, another duty, another job. So how do we get God in? Earlier I said we need still, quiet, meditative, reflexive moments. That's tough; Especially if you're searching for God. You have a tendency to ask what for? Plus if you try to force yourself there, it won't stick. This is not some crash diet. This is, as they, say a lifestyle change. So start small, then when you get to still, quiet, meditative and reflexive, you'll want those moments. You'll need those moments, and you will find that you do have time for them. So we'll take small steps by trying to find ways to inject God into our everyday lives. One way to get God in is to choose music, television shows, and moves that teach values or that are about something biblical. We busy people often will use these mediums as background noise to our work or exercise routines or while driving. Even now, while I am preparing this cast, there is music playing in the background. Music is compelling. Songs will stick with you long after they are over and they become an integral part of lives. Songs will play over and over in our heads sometimes days even months. There are psychological principals to music that I will not expound on here. I will only say that it can be a motivator, an up-lifter, something that can leave you with thoughts of God, or it can be a downer, depressing and leave you with feelings of despair. It all depends on your chooses. There is enough contemporary Christian music in various music genres for you to find something you like. I started out adding Christian songs to my "playlist" then gradually, I shifted to all Christian music, if for no other reason then I liked the words that were rolling around in my head. They empowered me, and I feel better when I find myself singing them. Choosing books, paper or audio, movies, and tv show based on biblical stories or filled with people with a moral dilemma and principled values provide examples for our walk with God. In many cases, we learn how to react or not react to our circumstances through these mediums. The power of these mediums is that they shape our thoughts and values, and many times, we don't even know it's happening. You'll spend countless hours engaged movies or TV shows that are teaching values, setting standards for you, and shaping your character. Next thing you know, you have an opinion about something that, if you stop for a moment to think about it, you're not quite sure where it came from. I experienced this first hand. About three years ago, I decided to watch the Cosby show, every episode, the whole series from start to finish. Now, I grew up on this show. So I had seen every episode at least twice as a child. Anyway, three years ago, my husband, I started watching it. After watching the first two or three episodes, I realized that I assimulated the principles taught in the show into my life. The Cosby Show had been my example of what family life should be like. Really, I think it became a picture of what I wanted it to be, so when I became an adult and had children, I modeled what I saw there. It was a very profound realization. The Cosby Show was great for setting examples and teaching values while having fun. It seems like there are fewer shows like today. Today's shows, teach values and principals that are contrary to God. Think about this: What you know or feel about God, is shaped by your values and you're learning values during tv/movie time, then it's time to change or at least add to what you've been doing. So we need to start consciously making audiobook, movie, and TV choices that teach us God's way and strong values. This will take some work, because there's tons of exciting content, and a good 90% of it will not lead you to God. I'm so impressed with Steph Curry because along with being one of the few players that give all glory to God, he's taken his wealth and celebrity and is using it produces movies that teach Godly principles. I love this because he is willing to use what he has to add wholesome, God-uplifting options to the content pool. Now listen, I'm not saying you need to throw away you're Avengers movie collection, don't tear down the Iron Man poster, or cancel the recording of your favorite tv show. I'm saying that you are in search of God, so that time needs to be His in some way. Adding something that is God-focused or that adds values to your choices and is a great way to add God to your everyday life. And Keep watching the other stuff too. But do it now with an awareness that what you're allowing your conscience to be shaped by content that may be blocking you from accessing or hearing from God. Another way to get God in is to talk to Him. I don't want to use the word pray, because pray or prayer brings up ceremonial thoughts, that may be intimidating or confusing. So I'm going to say talk to Him. You can speak to Him about anything. You can talk about what's going on at school or work about your dreams and aspirations. Talk to Him out loud. Don't be obnoxious, but be audible and be deliberate. Don't be afraid if people ask you why you're talking to yourself. One you're not, two its none of their business. My dad uses to mumble while he worked. Really he was trying to figure something out, and sometimes it's easier for the brain to process something if you say it out loud. It's like by saying it, you've isolated it from everything else that's trying to intrude on your focus. So he'd say things under his breath or in a low voice. As a child, I thought this funny. He'd catch me watching him, and ask what I was looking at and then it would turn into banter: "Daddy, why are you talking to yourself." He'd say instantly: "Ain't nothin' wrong with talking to yourself. You talk to yourself when you want to talk to intelligent people." Then he'd go back to work. Shut me up... My friends, I'm not talking about talking to yourself, I'm talking about audibly send everything up to God. He's your friend and counselor, so He wants to hear what's going on with you. He wants you to isolate the concerns, so you can focus on giving them to Him. So whatever it is: a worry, a fear, a hope, a dream, a wonder, a thank you, just say it to Him. He always there; so just talk. Now I would not be responsible if I did tell you that you need to begin to learn about God and what He wants for your life. You can do this in several ways. You can go to a church, you can read the Bible, you can find and listen to or read audiobooks that will help you learn about how God fits into your life. You can listen to podcasts. Whatever you choose to do, you need to do something, and you need to set aside time to do it. I set an alarm reminder. Keep in mind, this is my daily plan, sometimes it works out; sometimes it doesn't. But I'm committed to doing it. So, I set an alarm reminder for 4am. I'm at my best first thing in the morning, so I give my first thing in the morning time to God. During this time, I may, I write, or just I talk with God about what's to come for my day. I'll read the Bible or a devotional, listen to books, talks, sermons or music. This is over twenty years of practice, and even still the plan not always executed. For you, small steps. So, determine the amount of time you can comfortably and consistently plan to spend: 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, an hour; daily, weekly, monthly; You decide and commit. It's up to you. But be realistic, because if you're not, you will fail and the devil will tell you it's impossible; that's a trap. This is supposed to be your date with God. You decide how you will spend it. Plan for something and then if it shifts to something else, let that be okay. As long as you focus that time on your walk with Him. I'm not going to get into meditation and being still and spending time alone with Him. We are taking small steps. Now if you already spend time in meditation, go for it. Find something you want to tell God, or you wonder about God and reflection on it. Where ever it is, make a plan, and commit to doing. That's it folk. As always here are the thoughts I want you to take away with you:

1. There are are a lot of things out there, competing for your time and God won't join the competition.
2. Add God to your entertainment choices
3. Include God in the everyday things you do. You don't have to separate Him or stop living to believe in God.
4. Just talk to Him
5. Set an alarm reminder to encourage you to take a moment.

Hey maybe you already have things you do to spend time with God, or you're thinking of doing something that you haven't tried yet. Whatever it is, I want to hear about it. So if you want to share, send it to insearchofgod@stwog.org. Also, check out our website. We have lots there to help you get God in. At www.STWOG.org, you'll find our video message archive, links to the live ministry meetings, our Your Christian Walk book club, prayer group and more. So check it out. If you haven't already subscribed to this cast, please do so. I'm just getting started, so there's much much more to come. Also, leave a comment, I'd love your feedback. Your feedback will help me make this cast better. Until next time, Peace & Blessing.