Letters From Grandpa #155

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 155

Dearest grandchild,

Our last couple of letters have dealt with church attendance and Bible study. Today’s letter will deal with the disciplines of prayer and meditation. Ps. 46:10 states: Be still and know that I am God”. This idea is especially significant in that the Psalm admonishes us to “Be still” at the same time the earth is “giving way” and the mountains are “falling into the depth of the sea”. I’m sure if you haven’t gone through a time of testing yet, your will. At that time it will be important for you to “be still” and know that there is a God.

When the Law was given Mount Sinai trembled and was covered with smoke and fire (Ex. 19:18). Years later Elijah came to the same mountain and experienced something quite similar. God, however, chose to communicate with him at that time in a gentle whisper (1 Ki. 19:12). If there is too much racket going on you might not be able to hear God speak in a whisper.

In time of war it is common to try and disrupt your enemy’s communication. In Gulf War I, for example, just before the “elite Republican Guard” was attacked fiber optic cables were cut leaving the Iraqi army unable to communicate. This simple fact helped secure their quick defeat.

A common way to disrupt communication is by “jamming” radio signals. If you know the frequency of your opponents communication system you can override that system with powerful noise so that it becomes useless.

I’m not sure what the rules are today, but years ago when I was teaching in camp, radios, TVs, and CD players were forbidden. It’s hard to hear God when it is fourth down and inches, or when loud music is blaring through your head set. It is not surprising that many make decisions for Christ at camp. Sometimes it is the only time all year long when God’s line of communication with them is not being “jammed”.

The late Dr. George Washington Carver believed that God was broadcasting truth all over the planet just like a radio station. I don’t know where you are now, but I am confident that no matter where you are there are many radio signals all around you. A simple way to prove this is by turning on a radio. In addition to AM and FM stations there are also short wave, side band, cell phone, and satellite signals all around you. If you are in a building, these invisible pulsations penetrate ceiling and walls so that you can give and receive communication in almost any normal type of building. You receive no information, however, unless you “tune in”.

Even if you try to “tune in” to God, however, you still can’t hear Him if His voice is being overridden by a cacophony of distracting noise. That’s why it is important to withdraw, like Jesus did, to a quiet place where you can “be still” and know that there is a God.

Dr. Carver is known as the “Father of Synthetics”. He believed that this scientific break through came because he isolated himself from any distractions and “tuned in” to God. A video of

his life explains that this scientific break through came when Dr. Carver stayed in his laboratory for 48 hours. He was said to have prayed that God would teach him about the universe, but the Lord said that was too complicated for him. Then he prayed that God would teach him about man. This too, said the Lord, was too difficult. Then Dr. Carver asked God to teach him about the peanut. That’s when God answered his prayer and taught him how to synthesize 300 different products from the lowly peanut.

It might be a good idea to take your Bible with you for your quiet time. Dr. Carver took his Bible with him to the lab. Sir Isaac Newton, whom many believe to be the greatest scientist who ever lived, was an avid student of the Scriptures. William Harvey, the man famous for demonstrating the circulation of blood, claimed to have received insight into that remarkable discovery from the Bible. Kepler’s Christian faith led him to a way of thinking which eventually enabled him to solve the riddle of planetary motion. The first message sent by Samuel Morse over the telegraph was a Bible verse. Studying the Bible actually enhances your ability to think, meditate, and pray!

Jesus taught His disciples to “always pray and not give up”! (Lk. 18:1). That’s what I am trying to do, and that’s what I am encouraging you to do too!.

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce