God Talk

 

My Pastor husband and I have always been aware that we are distinctly different.  We are strong examples of the famous adage “opposites attract.”  We gained labels describing our differences when we took the Clifton StrengthFinders® assessment test.  Tim is an achiever who likes to complete lists and tasks; I am adaptable and love to live in the moment (especially if it’s fun).  Tim is strong in belief and what is appropriate; I am big on empathy and cutting everybody some slack.  Tim is great at connecting dots and helping people see where different choices will take them and how things will play out; I roll through everything positively thinking it will all be fine. 

We struggle at times with our distinctiveness; and we are great balances for each other.  For years, my Pastor husband would come home from work and ask, “what did you do today?”  I hated that question.  I had some weird perception in my mind that if I hadn’t done enough tasks, he would be upset or disappointed in me.  He just wanted to know about my day, nothing more.  Thankfully, he learned to ask, “how was your day?” which I could then happily answer with all sorts of emotive answers.

In our culture, our days are comprised with what we can or should accomplish.  We often define ourselves by what we do: our jobs and/or what fills our time.  It stands to reason then that our conversations are filled with the variety of things that consume our schedule. Gods Word tells us we are to be talking about God throughout our day. 

In Deuteronomy 11 Moses is instructing the children of Israel. In the first 17 verses he reminds them of all God has done for them: freed them from slavery in Egypt; rescued them from Pharoah’s army; provided for them in the wilderness; and brought them to the Promised Land. Moses informs them they are to obey God’s commands and rely on God.  He will be their provider.  He clearly states they are to love God with all their heart and soul.  Then verses 18 & 19 say,

“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them, when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

We are to be talking about God throughout our day.  Who He is, what He has done and what He is currently doing is to be part of our normal, every-day conversation! We should be talking about what Christ reveals to us through His Word, through prayer, through life experiences, and through others.  We are to be discussing what God reveals about our struggles, and the steps of obedience He gives us.  God is to be at the core of every discussion. His influence should be evident in every element and every moment of our lives.  He should be woven into every aspect of the “What did you do today/How did your day go?” discussion.

Today is Memorial Day.  Your weekend may have already been busy with bar-b-ques and the gathering of family and friends.  Your conversations have probably ranged from the basketball finals to mask-wearing to your upcoming vacation and a myriad of other topics.  As you finish out this holiday weekend, and as you enter a new work week, would you consider talking about God and who He is to you?  Challenge yourself to bring up how God is moving in your life in just one conversation each day.  Begin the shift from focusing on what we do, to who God is. Our lives and our conversations will be richer.  

Picnic photo by Ryan Jacobson on Unsplash