Power Down To Power Up

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.”
-Psalm 62:1-

I read a magazine article about church services in Haiti. It talked about worship services lasting 4 to 6 hours; how most people walked to get there, and once they arrived, they would stand crowded together in un-air-conditioned buildings; no coffee, tea, or doughnuts after the service either.
As I read, I was impressed with that level of commitment. Most preachers here in the states would tell you that they start losing people if the service goes much longer than an hour. There’s also the pressure of making sure that hour is filled with enough song and entertainment and multi-media to captivate the congregation. Can you imagine the members of your church leaving home an hour or so early in order to walk to the church, staying there for half the day, and then trudging back home under the hot afternoon sun? It seems pretty far-fetched.
In the article, they spoke to a Haitian pastor about the time difference between their services and ours. They asked him, “What is it about the Haitian people that keeps them worshiping at church for so many hours?” The answer was not very profound. The pastor laughed and replied, “In Haiti, we have nothing else to do!”
I sort of laughed at that, but then I was almost immediately struck by the weight of that answer. They didn’t have televisions, radios, smartphones, laptops, tablets, or movie theaters. The Lord God didn’t have very much competition! And then I realized the implications of that truth.
The psalmist observed that God leads us beside quiet waters (Psalm 23:2). The prophet Jeremiah knew that it is good to wait quietly for the Lord (Lamentations 3:26). Jesus invites us to get away with Him to a quiet place where we’ll find rest (Mark 6:31). God Himself says it this way: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
What would happen if you eliminated God’s competition, just for a test, to see what would happen? Turn off the T.V. Log off Facebook. Turn down the music. Unplug the game console. And turn your eyes to the Lord.

DENYING TODAY
What kinds of media and entertainment captivate you the most? Is there any device you just “couldn’t do without”? Well, try it! Take the challenge. “Go Haitian” for the next few days. Consider a “media fast,” other than your work requirements. Turn your full attention to the most fascinating Presence of all. He is more than enough.