We don’t think for ourselves. I’m not saying we don’t have thoughts. I’m saying that our thoughts are often someone else’s thoughts. Many of us really struggle with thinking for ourselves. I know…You spend your whole day thinking. But you might agree with me if I were to assume that much of your thinking is in response to something that has happened.
What if you took time each day to think. Not about what just happened but rather what God might be saying to you about what has yet to happen. Even better, what if you were to spend time thinking about what God is saying to you and how you might follow.
Read with me from Romans 12:2.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Facebook. CNN. FOX. Twitter. Each of these tell you want thoughts to have. What if you gave God the opportunity to do that? How might you see the world.
When we choose to look at the headlines through God’s eyes #blacklivesmatter and #bluelivesmatter look different. When we choose to view politics through God’s eyes Trump and Clinton begin to look different. But there is a problem…I mentioned it earlier. The problem is most of us struggle with thinking for ourselves. But why?
I have a theory.
Do you want to hear it?
I know…I’m telling you how to think.
Anyway…My theory is this.
We can’t stand to sit in silence.
We are extremely uncomfortable being still and knowing that He is God.
Two years ago, research was done by both Virginia and Harvard Universities to discover why it is so difficult for us to simply be still and think. You can read the whole article here. Here’s what they discovered. We don’t like to sit alone. Actually, if given the chance, we will shock ourselves to break the silence.
"In more than 11 separate studies, the researchers showed that people hated being left to think, regardless of their age, education, income or the amount they used smartphones or social media...So unbearable did some find it that they took up the safe but alarming opportunity to give themselves mild electric shocks in an attempt to break the tedium. Two-thirds of men pressed a button to deliver a painful jolt during a 15-minute spell of solitude. One man – an outlier – found thinking so disagreeable he opted for a shock 190 times.” TheGuardian.com
Try this on this week. Join me in breaking free from the pattern of this world. Join me in sitting in silence. No music. No book. No devotion. Just silence. For just 15 minutes.
I trust this practice of solitude will be fantastic for you as you think for yourself.
Much love,
Pastor Matt