INTERRUPTIONS

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crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,713
3,651
113
#1
Interruptions...

Your in devotions, or prayer, or counselling and then...

your kids start fighting,
the phone rings,
your spouse starts up on a petty issue
neighbor's kid starts his drum lesson outside your window...etc. etc.

How do you see them?

An attack of the enemy?
or
A Divine test?

ps. feel free to use your own examples
 
Jan 10, 2013
318
4
0
#2
All the things you mention are part of God's creation.
They are no less important than our own prayers.

Your prayer can wait - God knows what you feel. Saying it is, to some extent, pointless. Just think it.
Share your love with all that irritate you and that will be louder in God's ear than a prayer...
 

Radius

Senior Member
Feb 11, 2013
1,138
180
63
#3
All the things you mention are part of God's creation.
They are no less important than our own prayers.

Your prayer can wait - God knows what you feel. Saying it is, to some extent, pointless. Just think it.
Share your love with all that irritate you and that will be louder in God's ear than a prayer...
Huh? Your neighbors kid starts to bang away on his drum or the phone ringing is up there with the importance of prayer or witnessing to someone. I don't think you know what you're actually saying.

And "Prayer can wait"? Or, "saying [prayer] is pointless"?

I hope you don't share these beliefs with those that are new in Christ or earnestly seeking Him. You have some backwards beliefs that I don't think align with a proper Christian life.
 
K

kenisyes

Guest
#4
I see this as a chance to pray with what I do to a child of God next, instead of what I say to God next.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#5
Interruptions...

Your in devotions, or prayer, or counselling and then...

your kids start fighting,
the phone rings,
your spouse starts up on a petty issue
neighbor's kid starts his drum lesson outside your window...etc. etc.

How do you see them?

An attack of the enemy?
or
A Divine test?

ps. feel free to use your own examples
I think its a test to see how mature you are by how you react to the interruptations:

do you get angry and snap at your kid, spouse, neighbor's kids or person on the phone?

Do you ignore them and continue doing what you are doing?

Or Do you pray and ask God what He wants you to do?

If you are in the middle of prayers, God will understand if you take a moment to find out why your kids are fighting and create peace in your household, because it shows love.

If your wife starts up on a petty issue, hopefully it won't be in the middle of a counseling session, but I would pray and ask God what is truly bothering her because most of the time people pick fights on little things but something else is really bothering them.

If your neighbor kids makes a racket, I would just ignore it. Close the window and ask God for more patience.

as for the phone, I would let the answering machine answer and call the person back later.

my examples:

JW knocking on the front door,
confused and drugged up man knocking on your bedroom window (creepy),
kid about to fall off the steps of the playground,
bird pooping on your devotional book
 
H

hattiebod

Guest
#6
Interruptions...

Your in devotions, or prayer, or counselling and then...

your kids start fighting,
the phone rings,
your spouse starts up on a petty issue
neighbor's kid starts his drum lesson outside your window...etc. etc.

How do you see them?

An attack of the enemy?
or
A Divine test?

ps. feel free to use your own examples

I like to know I will have time alone with God each day and it will not be interupted. I also know if I try to spend time in prayer or in reading etc it will probably be disturbed if i attempt it in the day...family, dogs... doorbell, phone etc. Plus, I work so, I get up before the rest of the household so I can have some lovely peaceful time with the Lord to start off my day. Its sets me up for the day too with His Word in the forefront of my mind and I know I will not be disturbed. God Bless, <><
 
B

BishopSEH

Guest
#7
Devotions and daily prayer I recommend be done before you start your day when you mind is calm. For this reason I have my bible and prayer list right beside my bed. As soon as I can see well enough I do those right away. I see interruptions of those as an enemy assault to be honest. However, unless the problem is going to join me in my bedroom it can and usually is ignored till I am ready to deal with it.

For prayers throughout the day I tend towards short prayers. Get right to the point and move forward. In the event I am involved in a counseling session, on the spot or planned I usually mute my phone and lets the voice mail pic it up and ask forgiveness if I am expecting something that can't seem to wait.

I am usually the last one to bed as well so usually the only interruption to my evening prayers and devotions is my own fatigue. It is not uncommon for me to wake several hours later with my bible on my chest. This is a good example why I do morning devotions and prayer as a standard and why it is good to practice that yourself.

In truth though, sometimes it neither a test nor an attack, its just plain life. It about priorities. If God is a priority then you will make time for Him and if not you will never have enough time to fit Him in.

In Christ,

Bishop SEH
 
Jan 10, 2013
318
4
0
#8
Huh? Your neighbors kid starts to bang away on his drum or the phone ringing is up there with the importance of prayer or witnessing to someone. I don't think you know what you're actually saying.

And "Prayer can wait"? Or, "saying [prayer] is pointless"?

I hope you don't share these beliefs with those that are new in Christ or earnestly seeking Him. You have some backwards beliefs that I don't think align with a proper Christian life.
If you are on the phone with a friend and all manner of madness breaks lose, you excuse yourself and say "I'll call you back"
God is a better friend than that friend because he KNOWS what is going on. He also knows what you were going to say.

I didn't say it was pointless to pray - but God will wait and if you finish a prayer in your head God "gets it" - God is not the postal service where somehow if you start a letter and don't finish it the recipient won't know what you wanted to say.

If you think those other things more important you're missing what God IS.
God is the kids around you, banging drums.
God is in the people that might phone you either as friends or even those guys asking if you want double-glazing - doing their jobs.

You think your prayer is important? Why? It's a bit self-important of us to think God waits upon our every word. He knows what is in us. Sometimes He'd like us to say it. But can you remember how SHORT the only prayer Jesus told his disciples to mimic was?
Those who complain about their God-given families and such need to spend more time thinking about God in all he has given them - and less about the words of a prayer.
Too many people think along the lines of "I need fifteen minutes to pray because I need to cover all the people in my congregation that need..." Hogwash. God knows how you feel. Just say "please help those in our hearts at this time with their problems" - The Bible even says those who pray too long (and I've been in church with many of my friends doing this) are wasting their time.

Prayer = praise God, thanks for what we have, ask for help to do as He wishes, ask forgiveness for when we fail, ask for help for others, ask that his will be done - in the name of Jesus Christ (we pray through our High Priest and mediator, the man Jesus Christ).

If you are, at the time, witnessing to another say "hold that thought, I have to deal with this."
If they don't wait they were waiting for an excuse to bolt anyway - which means they are not ready yet or you're poor at communicating (I am poor at communicating God's word personally).

Or maybe get their help to calm things down. Inclusion in your life would help them understand you are human...
 
A

Abiding

Guest
#9
One interruption that can throw off my day is the
thought that interruptions are not part of my day.
bring it on!
 
Jan 10, 2013
318
4
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#10
Can I please ask what are "devotions" and "daily prayer" and where do they appear in the Bible?

Prayer I see - and Jesus prayed often we are told.
But it's never described as daily (could have been more or less).

And devotions seems to be a new term I'm not familiar with - it sounds more ceremonial than anything related to a personal dealing with God but I REALLY have no idea what is meant by the term. It seems pretty new, american evangelical type stuff. But I expect I am, as often, very very wrong :( please let me know what is meant by the term.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,713
3,651
113
#11
Can I please ask what are "devotions" and "daily prayer" and where do they appear in the Bible?

Prayer I see - and Jesus prayed often we are told.
But it's never described as daily (could have been more or less).

And devotions seems to be a new term I'm not familiar with - it sounds more ceremonial than anything related to a personal dealing with God but I REALLY have no idea what is meant by the term. It seems pretty new, american evangelical type stuff. But I expect I am, as often, very very wrong :( please let me know what is meant by the term.
I see it as taking time to ponder or reflect what you have read...an art many americans have lost in their hectic paced world!
 
T

trukin

Guest
#12
an attack. the devil is going to do anything he can to lure you away from reading and/or learning the word of the bible or "reflect" as you say. i have apps on my android phone (the bible, bott radio, and other christian programming) that or christian radio stations on the am/fm that i try to listen to daily while i'm travelling across the U.S. of course my interuptions come in the form of the availabilty of a radio or cell phone signal.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,713
3,651
113
#13
an attack. the devil is going to do anything he can to lure you away from reading and/or learning the word of the bible or "reflect" as you say. i have apps on my android phone (the bible, bott radio, and other christian programming) that or christian radio stations on the am/fm that i try to listen to daily while i'm travelling across the U.S. of course my interuptions come in the form of the availabilty of a radio or cell phone signal.
I suppose you would agree interruptions from the enemy can't happen without God allowing it so.

BTW, I drove trucks 35 years ,all local...22 of it with Roadway Express til they merged with Yellow Freight.
 
N

Nancyer

Guest
#14
Devotions means time you set aside, daily if at all possible, to read God's Word, meditate on it, talk to God about it. (time you devote to God) Usually it is done with both your Bible and a Devotional (a book of specific scriptures, one for each day, and an explanation of it's meaning and relativity to life today) I have several devotionals that I love and while I don't actually have a specific daily time, I keep my Bible and one of the devotionals, and a notebook, with me all day. If I get a lunch time or break time (my job schedule is different everyday) I read and study ,usually while having a soda or my lunch. It clears my mind, keeps me calm and peaceful. I can feel the difference when I can't do this is at some point in the middle of my day.

Hope this is helpful. God bless you in your walk.
 
J

jinx

Guest
#15
could always turn your phone off, plug up your ears, separate kids before your quiet time or do it while they sleep. always a way around it. I would go to the altar to pray before service and there was this one guy that would pray at the top of his voice, every. single. time.
it got old fast.
I plugged up my ears with my fingers.
is it an attack or test...... no, just life. Can't stop the world while you pray.
 
T

trukin

Guest
#16
I suppose you would agree interruptions from the enemy can't happen without God allowing it so.

BTW, I drove trucks 35 years ,all local...22 of it with Roadway Express til they merged with Yellow Freight.

been driving 10 1/2 years now. couple different companies but been with this company about 4 1/2 yrs delivering golf carts to 48 plus canada....but i dont go to canada. aint lost nothin there n dont care to go, at least not in a big truck anyway
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,713
3,651
113
#17
been driving 10 1/2 years now. couple different companies but been with this company about 4 1/2 yrs delivering golf carts to 48 plus canada....but i dont go to canada. aint lost nothin there n dont care to go, at least not in a big truck anyway
a healthy way to take it is to see yourself as a missionary disguised as a trucker :cool:
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,782
2,952
113
#18
I have moved my devotions - the time I spend reading the Bible, prayer and meditation to the morning. I find that to be a quiet time where I can really seek God, and hear from him.

But if I had interruptions, I agree that how I responded to them would be the test of my Christian maturity. God expects us to spend time with him, but not to neglect our responsibilities.

On the other hand, my children are grown, and I live in the country, so not so many distractions. My husband and I never intrude on each other's time spent with God, so basically I have a free ticket for now for peace and quiet. God is good!!
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,713
3,651
113
#19
I'm a night owl myself, even 5 cups of get-up... won't
 
Feb 17, 2010
3,620
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0
#20
Crossnote, what does the OTHER One says about the distraction? Or is your devotional and prayer-time ONE WAY CONVO'S? Paul asked God why he should bear a thorn, and God answered back? Daniel askedGod what things meant and God answered back. God says you can ask ANYTHING and he will do it for you....

If you start time with God are you allowed to ask God.... "Lord I am in need of a few answers, Lord can you answer me?" Or may you ask.... "Lord can you please send some person that stopped sinning to this sight, so that he can help us understand how you work?..... May you ask,... Lord may I approach you for some requests, or some guiding, or some teaching?... May you ask.... LORD PLEASE LET YOUR WILL TRANSPIRE IN MY LIFE!... May you ask... Lord make me ONE WITH YOU!.... May you ask... Lord PLEASE HEAR MY CRIES, MY PRAYERS, Lord save me...

Oh prayers can achieve MUCH... Espesially those of a righteouss... and if it is feverent.... Appose Satan and he will FLEE from you... Wonder why? May it be for the same reason they flee from Jesus.... SON OF GOD!!!! All Son's of God are fearful charactors to evil spirits and Satan.... They FEAR the Righteous Spirit, in ANY PERSON! In Jesus FIRST, but also in all righteous people.