Shutin' it down

This may be a blog I've written before. Probably because it's a lesson that I have to re-learn at least once every year. I've been meaning to write this for the last couple weeks or so.
  
    I think if I could offer one piece of advice it would be, wear sunscreen.  hahaha...I crack myself up! I couldn't resist that. No, my advice is to seek the silence. Seek the silence relentlessly. It's so important, especially in the age we live in.
    I say this from my own personal experience. I have a job where it would be easy to sit and watch movies or listen to music or radio while I work all day. That's a huge temptation because it's easy. It's way easier to just tune out, turn off my brain and be entertained. As much as I know I need to just sit in silence, that temptation to just not think is there.
   In examining what stirs my heart for Christ and what kills my affection, I've found that not getting enough silence absolutely kills that affection. After going through a period of constantly indulging in the noise, then shutting it down and sitting in silence for the majority of every day, I slowly start to feel more of my personality coming back, which I didn't realize had been deadened by the constant barrage of input into my brain. I can feel my creativity, intuition, and cognitive skills slowly breathe to life and grow stronger and stronger. I never even realize how much of my soul and life has been sucked out of me by the busyness of my ears and eyes.
       Now, I know that my own personal temptation is that of occupying my mind with pointless entertainment, but I think it can have the same effect if you're simply around people all day. I'm not sure it really matters what the input is, too much input deadens you, and steals your joy without you even realizing most of the time.
       I don't think this is just a personality thing, even if it probably does come more naturally to introverts. I don't think our spirits were meant to just absorb, absorb, absorb. We have to shut it all down and let our souls and brains breathe. Our souls crave that quiet time to be alone with their Maker. It's seriously amazing how God will open up our hearts and really speak so clearly when we just sit and be still. He breathes life into in those moments.
    I also think we need that time alone to determine (or remember) who we are, away from all the influences that we judge ourselves by. It's good to get alone and re-focus on His heart, re-focus on who He's made us to be and His purposes for us, so that we can go back out there and live with intent instead of just living life.

That's my two cents. Instead of letting other people and entertainment sculpt your thoughts and be mirrors that shape your self image, let the Holy Spirit talk to you. Let Him show you who you are. Make time to let Him speak.

Just saying. Nothin' ya'll didn't know. Nothing that isn't extremely obvious.
But that's always heavy on my heart, because it's a fight and I have to be consistent and intentional about it. It doesn't always come easy. It's not something I always want to do, but in the end, it's always worth it. It always results in beauty and more life.  It's something we can't embrace deeply enough.
 
ok goodbye.