Listening to God all the time, & why i don't do it

The first question of yesterday's bible study got me thinking, and i realized it is a topic that i constantly think about. Most of what i am about to write is based on personal thoughts and do not immediately have theological references to base my thoughts on. Hence, feel free to correct me if i propose something theologically unsound or just feel free to discuss your ideas...

What it means to me to listen to God all the time: Personally, i have an analogy that describes what it means for me to listen to God all the time. The analogy goes as follows... My brain is like a radio, and I choose which channel i want to tune into. My boss talking to me could be 1 station, my selfish nature telling me to do something that only benefits me at the cost of others' is another channel, my grandma yelling at me is another channel, and the list goes on. Of particular interest is the God channel. I believe that God is constantly talking to us, as long as we try to tune into this 'God' channel. I think that it is a personal choice as to which channel/s i want to tune into at any point of time. 

For example, i get on a bus, and its crowded with other nationalities who are talking loudly. One channel could be telling me how irritating it is that i have to squeeze with all these people who are (in my opinion), making the bus ride unglam, and i get irritated. However, if i chose to tune into the God channel, maybe what i would be hearing is that all these people are God's creation that he truely loves and that maybe at that point of time, i should be making a short prayer for them. Or for example, maybe someone irritates me at work by talking a whole load of rubbish. Of course, the most obvious & easiest channel to tune into at that point of time could be the channel broadcasting how irritating that person could be and how much better life could be if he was given the SACK! However, if i made the conscious effort to tune into the God channel, maybe i would receive something of a whole different flavour.

 Why I don't listen to God all the time: I believe that if we are faithful with the little things, bigger things will come our way. So let's say i am constantly tuned into this God channel, and maybe i see a very sad & defeated looking person walking along the street and i think that the God channel is telling me to go over and just pop an encouraging word to that person. I lose almost nothing by going over to that person and saying ( of course at the same time looking real genuine), 'You look sad and i just wanted to come over and wish for you that life gets better'. Something like that doesnt cost me much, and issint too difficult for me to do. However, what if i am constantly obediant and one day, as i am thinking about my life and in general just tuning into the God channel and i hear this, 'Why don't you forgo the savings you have put aside for your PS3 and LCD tv and donate it to this particular charity fundraising cause or just give it to this person who you know needs the monetary help?' What am i to do then? give up my PS3 and my LCD tv? but can i do it? Or, what if after many years, i suddenly keep on hearing in this God channel that i am meant to leave singapore and go work in a less developed country... i can imagine what it is like to live in a poorer and less clean place, and the thought really doesn't make me excited. 

Of course, i know that God has a wonderful plan for me and that a life led according to his will is more satisfying than any PS3 , nice apartment, air-conditioned tennis courts, great Weiss Beer, that new Mini, could bring me (maybe his will also includes all this and more). But, the distance between the heart and mind is great, and i am comfortable with what i have now... And sometimes it makes me nervous to listen all the time just in case something sacrificial comes up and i have a great struggle to give it up... Of course, i plan to work on living the life God intends and align my life according to his will. I know it is not easy for me. 

Erm, and here i end my post abruptly...

Josh

Let's pray for the survivors of the Myanmar cyclone and Sichuan earthquake

I guess we're all aware of the 2 disasters that hit China and Myanmar.... so let's take some time daily to pray for the people there...

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20

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If you're not too sure where to start, here's a prayer list that my fren compiled...

Myanmar cyclone:

1. New storms worsen Myanmar's misery, many destitute victims begging for more aid on roadsides.
2. 2.5 mil people left destitute by the disaster.
3. Military government’s restrictions on movement for most international aid workers and ban on foreign journalists à can't assess the death toll accurately.
   
4. Military government refusing the entry of major aid distribution networks run by foreign agencies and workers.
   
5. Protests were planned in >30 cities around the world on Sat "to demand the world does more to aid cyclone victims", even if it meant acting without Myanmar's permission.
   
6. If emergency supplies don't get through in much greater quantities à increased likelihood of starvation and diseases e.g. diarrhoea, dysentery and skin infections (first cases of cholera already confirmed).
   
7. Rumour: local military units are expropriating trucks of food, blankets and water.

• Pray for better weather, so that the survivors can have better living conditions and the relief effort can be carried out smoothly.
• Pray that it won't develop into an epidemic.
  
• Pray that more emergency supplies (and potable water) and medical supplies will reach the survivors.
  
• Pray that God will sustain the survivors physically and emotionally and grant them good health despite unsatisfactory living conditions.
  
• Pray that international pressure would induce the military government to admit foreign aid workers and essential equipment into the disaster-stricken areas.
  
• Pray that more humanitarian aid can reach the destitute victims ASAP.
  
• Pray that the local military units will have more compassion and conscience towards the survivors, and don’t hoard the supplies and sell them for exorbitant prices.
  
• Pray that all the aid can be distributed in a transparent way so that the supplies would go directly to the victims
  
• Pray that from this disaster, Myanmar government will recognise the need to preserve and protect mangrove forest and rehabilitate degraded cover by establishing proper land-use plan.

Give thanks that…:

• Ordinary people are trying to help by sending trucks and vans into the delta with clothes, biscuits, dried noodles, rice provided by private companies and individuals.
  
• France and Britain are sending emergency supplies to Myanmar. Britain is contributing a total of 17 million pounds worth of aid. France is sending 1000 tonnes of emergency supplies (enough to provide 100,000 people with food and clean drinking water for 2 weeks).
  A French ship carrying mosquito nets and shelter for at least 60,000 people left Chennai port overnight and would take 3 days to reach Myanmar's waters.
  
• Pray that it would be authorised to enter Myanmar's waters.

China earthquake:

1. Powerful aftershock (5.9 on Richter scale) 4 days after the quake caused more havoc: cut off roads and destroyed newly repaired telecommunications.


• Pray that there won’t be any more serious aftershocks so that the rescue and relief efforts can be carried out smoothly.


2. Precautionary alert against possible radiation leaks: the disaster area is home to China's chief nuclear weapons research lab in Mianyang and several secretive atomic sites.


• Pray that there won't be harmful radiation leaks and that the authorities would be equipped with enough wisdom to handle this issue safely and effectively.


3. Frustration and exhaustion grew among survivors. About 4.8 million lost their homes


• Pray that God will grant them peace, comfort and hope, and sustain them physically and emotionally.


4. Aid and troops have yet to reach some victims --> not enough food and clean drinking water resulted in diarrhoea.


5. Supplies and rescuers struggled to reach the worst-hit areas (due to buckled and blocked roads).


• Pray for better weather to open up transportation to all areas.
  
• Pray that more emergency supplies and medicines can be delivered to the needy.


6. Concerns about epidemics (if the dead were not soon buried or cremated)


• Pray that the corpses can be buried or cremated asap to prevent epidemics.


7. Possible dangers of damaged dams collapsing or flooding (could flood cities and towns that are struggling to recover from the quake).


• Pray for the authorities to be equipped with enough wisdom and knowledge to repair the damaged dams asap to avert potential disasters.
  
• Pray that the contractors in China would adhere to the building safety regulations more strictly and construct earthquake-safe structures.

Give thanks that…

• China has accepted help from foreign rescue teams from Japan, Russia, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore.
  
• World Food Programme is sending enough ready-to-eat meals for 118,000 people
  
• China has asked the US for satellite images to help locate victims and identify damaged infrastructure.
  
• China has requested talks with US experts on disease prevention.
  
• Pray that the proactive stance China has taken (and its willingness to accept foreign relief aid) in the rescue and relief efforts would enable the quake victims to get all the help they need to survive the aftermath of the quake and rebuild their lives.

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