For every half-hour we watch commercial television, we typically spend 11 to 12 minutes watching commercials. Even those of us who mute the advertisements, and gaze across the room, waste precious time.
Some TV programs are even greater time-wasters. A typical telecast of a professional football game, for example, lasts more than three hours. The game clock is running only 60 of those 180 minutes and actual contact time among the players is more like 40 minutes. Commercials during that telecast can run 66 minutes! That's two hours of wasted time.
How can we put that time to better use? A few months ago, I began doing what I call Mute-N-Pray. Whenever a commercial comes on, I press the mute button on my remote control. As the agonizing quiet takes hold of the room, I close my eyes and say a prayer. Yes, a prayer! I pray for the people I have been watching. I pray for the other people in the room. I pray for peace.
My quiet reflection builds up my energy, rests my eyes and ears, and helps me concentrate on the show I'm watching. I am instantly put into a world of my own.
At first, you may get static from your spouse or children, or both. (It was only after some initial resistance that my wife joined me.) But as they see what you are doing, you may impress them to do likewise.
Imagine 40 million people watching one program. At each commercial, all press Mute and then they pray. Wow! What a flood of prayers. If this is done regularly, think how the world will change.
Ask friends and family to Mute-N-Pray with you tonight, then invite them to join you in making this a habit. Our children and grandchildren have joined us. If your extended family is watching a game in different cities, the joint efforts to Mute-N-Pray will connect the family's asking for good health or help with problems.
The results can be dramatic. Our entire family muted and prayed when my wife had an X-ray that showed a suspicious area. After our prayers, that lump miraculously dissolved.
Tonight, I will watch television for four hours. That's 88 minutes of prayers, just tonight.
Will you join me, even if it's for only a minute?
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