You are what you eat?

Has anyone ever said that to you? I've heard it a lot and maybe there is some truth behind it, but food isn't the only thing we take in which impacts us. I wonder if we could also say, "You are what you listen to!"

What are you listening to that is influencing you?

If you asked me, I'd probably talk to you about advice from friends I trust and maybe classes and lectures, or talks at church.

But as I stop and think about this, I am surprised by how many other ‘voices' there are in my life:

• The TV: when I watch a program that tells me my life is pretty boring and mediocre.
• The shopping mall: when I hear that I need all ‘this' stuff to be happy, and that I need to look a certain way to have a sense of self-worth.
• Other people: when I stand by while someone uses their words to hurt someone else, and I learn that I can't trust people and need to fight to make it in the world.

I don't like to admit it, but as much as I try to pretend like these ‘voices' don't impact me, they do. The scary thing for me is that these are also the things that I hear most in life.

What are some of the strong voices in your life? What are they teaching you?

Listening to the right stuff

Here are just a few things that God says about who you are and what is important in life:

God knows you and loves you (e.g. Psalm 139; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:39).

God has a plan for your life and there is so much more to it than just getting stuff (e.g. Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 2:10).

To be able to hear what God wants to teach me I've realised I have to get a whole lot better at creating space to listen to him!

My challenge

To get rid of one thing in my week that is teaching me things which are unhelpful (e.g. TV, shopping, or whatever it may be) and replace it with time spent listening to God's voice.

If you are like me and find the whole sitting, Bible reading, praying and listening thing difficult, Claire has some great ideas here about different ways to connect with God.

What voices are you making space for in your life?

David Brice is the admin guy with the youth and children’s team at THQ.  Having moved around from South Australia, to PNG, to Victoria, he now calls Sydney home.

David is also part of a team planting a new congregation in Homebush, Sydney, where he has the important role of drinking coffee with people.  In his spare time he enjoys hanging out with his beautiful girlfriend Jasmin, studying theology, and dreaming of the day when he becomes an Ultimate Frisbee champion!