Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Elephants and Crickets ” for Friday, 19 December 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Elephants and Crickets
” for Friday, 19 December 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 1:1 How well God must like you—
    you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon,
    you don’t slink along Dead-End Road,
    you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.
2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.[Philippians 4:8 (NIV)]
Have you ever had an elephant in your house? Probably not! But if you ever did, you would know exactly where it was. Have you ever had a cricket in your house? Last year I did, and I spent days searching for it. I would listen for that high-pitched chirping, and just when I thought I had found it, the chirping would stop. I spent a lot of time on this little cricket — looking for it, listening for it. But when I stopped focusing on the cricket, one day it left my house.
At times life brings us “elephants” — the huge ordeals of death, divorce, or disease. But for the most part, our days are spent with the crickets: those little things in life that seem to annoy us, stress us, dominate our thoughts, and take our minds off more important things.
When our days seem full of cricket chatter, we can intentionally tune it out by turning to the Lord through scripture and prayer. We can think about whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is commendable and worthy of praise. When we are listening for God’s word, we won’t be able to hear the crickets!
The Author: Michael Vaughn (Tennessee, USA)
Thought for the Day: When I’m thinking about God, I won’t hear the crickets.
Prayer: Gracious God, keep our thoughts on you today and how you want to use us in your world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those struggling to hear God
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