Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Verse of the Day: Isaiah 57:11
“Did you forget about me and become unfaithful because you were more afraid of someone else? Have I been silent so long that you no longer fear me.” (CEV)
“Who talked you into the pursuit of this nonsense, leaving me high and dry, forgetting you ever knew me? Because I don’t yell and make a scene do you think I don’t exist?...” (MSG)
“Are you afraid of these idols? Do they terrify you? Is that why you have lied to me and forgotten me and my words? It is because of my long silence that you no longer fear me?” (NLT)
“Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me not taken this to heart? It is not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me?” (NIV)
“And of whom hast thou been afraid of feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, not laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?” (KJV)
FORETHOUGHT What does this verse mean to you? Take a minute and write down your thoughts.
LET’S TALK
Issues at work? We’ll hear from our boss.
Issues at home? We’ll hear from our spouse.
Issues following the speed limit? We’ll hear from the state trooper.
(That one was for me.)
In any arena where we appear to have shortcomings, we can usually count on someone to let us know where we need improvements. On the other hand, if no one mentions the issue, we go with the logic that everything must be fine. We become accustomed to immediate feedback being our gauge for how we’re doing. So, what happens when there’s no audible feedback? It’s simple: Things become out of sight and out of mind.
Anything that isn’t actively presented to us is passively ignored. Essentially, the things making the most noise in our lives appear to be the most important. So, we give them the most attention.
However, we are children of a God who is patient, gentle, and caring. He requires us to stay near Him, but His method of getting our attention won’t reflect the world’s methods. We can’t wait on God to grab our attention with the ways of man. God is not like man and that’s the best part of this story!
PRAYER Father, thank You for this time of being near You. Thank You for being faithful to me when I wasn’t always faithful to You. You are realigning me to be in fully in-line with Your purpose for my life. Allow my heart and mind to be open and receptive to the lessons You are teaching. Allow me to understand that even my messes are being used for the greater good. Father, retune my ears to hear You in the way You speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
REFLECT
Be honest. It’s only you and God.
1, What has your attention today?
2. How is God trying to get your attention?
3. How can you hear Him over the noise today?
