Day 5 - “Hey, Alexa”

Lately, I’ve noticed how many conversations in my house start with the words, “Hey, Alexa.” “Hey Alexa, set a timer for 5 minutes.” “Hey Alexa, add eggs to my grocery list.” “Hey Alexa, play the Frozen 2 soundtrack.” The other night, my wife, Emily, was preparing dinner and I heard her talking to Alexa several times. I jokingly shouted towards the kitchen, “I feel like you talk to Alexa more than you talk to me!” Without skipping a beat my wife replied, “Well, at least Alexa listens to me.” Ouch. While I knew she was just kidding, there was enough truth in those words to make them sting just a bit.

I have been known to get caught with my head in the clouds. Call it daydreaming. Call it distracted. Call it watching ESPN. At times I’m guilty of being less attentive than I know I should be. When the roles are reversed and I’m the one trying to get another person’s attention, few things frustrate me more than being ignored or having to repeat myself simply because the other person wasn’t paying close attention. I should remember that the next time my sweet wife is talking to me! 

We all want to be heard. Beyond just the words we are saying, we want to know that someone hears our hearts. To be heard is to be recognized. To be recognized is to be known. And to be known is to feel valued. Others may fail to hear us, but God never does. 1 John 5:14 says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to His will he hears us.”

So many Scriptures remind us that the God who stays is the God who listens to us when we call to Him. He loves when we come to Him with our thoughts, questions, worries, and praise. As you read through today’s verses, be reminded that God isn’t just hearing your words. He hears even the words you don’t speak. He hears your heart. Have you ever tried to hear someone’s heartbeat? Maybe a newborn baby? It’s impossible to do that from a distance. You’ve got to press your ear up to the baby’s chest just to catch the faint and distant beat of a tiny heart. You have to be close to the Heart. He’s that close to you. Close enough to hear the beat of your heart and the thoughts in your head today. So, talk to Him, spend time with Him. He’s the God who stays attentive to His children at all times.