PRAYER PROMPT ••• When I was a teenager, there was a “brain-teaser” (not sure what else to call it) that said this: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
Do you remember this?
I don’t hear it as often as I did back then (pun intended), but every blue moon, the question randomly pops up in my head.
I think it’s a dumb question.
The laws of gravity and sound don’t cease to exist in the absence of an audience.
But this morning, the question came to mind when I saw this image.
How about our faith?
Do we live our faith when there is no one around to observe it?
When we are alone, we are more inclined to have our guard down and be ourselves.
Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
In fact, I used to end my prayer prompts with this verse because I wanted to encourage readers to talk to God on their own, in private, just one-on-one with Him.
So let’s rework the question that this morning is based on…
When your faith is by itself in a forest, does it make a joyful noise?
On the other side of that thought, do we quiet our faith when others are around?
Do we worry what others will think of our faith if we demonstrate it too loudly?
Jesus said in Matthew 10:33, “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
With all that said, let us live our faith boldly and confidently- with or without an audience.
Because at the end of it all, all that matters is the audience of One.
He knows our hearts whether we are alone or surrounded by others.
Jesus died for us, so we should live faithfully for Him.
Today, as you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to help you live your faith out loud, no matter who is around.
And if others hear your example, pray that they may be encouraged to live faith out loud too!
