Lessons From Forcing Myself to Watch Star Wars

Recently I forced myself to watch the Star Wars movies and learn what they are all about. I found that this experience had some parallels for our spiritual lives.

With much anticipation, many die-hard Star Wars fans are awaiting the arrival of the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, this December. Being the younger sister of two older brothers, I was a helpless victim of unfair movie selections that, as you might imagine, led to what seemed to be endless hours of Star Wars. After 10 years, I’ve discovered some valuable lessons from Star Wars.

Dislike is usually due to ignorance

I had quickly decided I did not like Star Wars. Why didn’t I like it? Was I too young to understand the sci-fi concepts? Did I not have enough background information on the Star Wars universe? Was it just not my kind of movie? Well, the reason I gave for not liking the movie was that I did not understand the overall plot. When we don’t understand something, it’s easy to default to “not liking” or “not being interested” in it.

How many people have you met that quickly dismiss God from their lives in a similar way? How many people do not understand the plot of God’s great plan for mankind? How many people ignore life’s largest questions by playing the “uninterested” card?

Why do they do this? They are choosing the easy way out.

Proverbs 14:12 explains: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” On the contrary, “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” (Proverbs 12:28). God is extremely clear about the two outcomes: life or death. God wants us to accept His calling, understand His plan and ultimately choose life!

Dive in

This past summer, I finally agreed to sit down and watch all the Star Wars movies once and for all. I had to force myself (no pun intended) to begin with a positive attitude and an open mind. If you aren’t willing to learn, chances are you will not change your opinion.

The same goes with your relationship with God. An investment of time and effort (or force) is necessary for you to really “get it.” You’re going to slip up from time to time. You’re not going to know everything immediately. But don’t get discouraged!

Here are five tips to help you develop a stronger relationship with God:

1. Ask God for a teachable heart.

Sometimes the easiest thing to do is simply ask. God knows what your struggles are and loves hearing from His children. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). Therefore, ask God for a teachable heart and help to implement His way into your life.

2. Attitude is everything!

A bad attitude can really harm personal growth. However, a positive attitude can lead you down a path of happiness, thankfulness and wisdom. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

3. Don’t get distracted!

In our world of jam-packed schedules and notifications, we must make time for God. He speaks in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), and we must be diligent to listen to what God has to say. Can you afford to miss a day of spiritual improvement?

4. Pray and study daily.

The easiest way to gain knowledge and understanding is to become closer to God. These advances come from communicating with Him through prayer and studying the Bible. It is extremely encouraging to know our Creator will draw near to us if we draw near to Him (James 4:8).  

5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!  

As I began the movie marathon, I became overwhelmed with new fictional creatures and species that I didn’t understand. What are ewoks and sand people anyway? A similar thing can happen as you begin to study the Bible. By learning about the Sabbath day, holy days and God’s awesome plan for humanity, we just begin to scratch the surface. The more questions we ask, the clearer our understanding and more solid our spiritual foundation will be!

Missing out on an enjoyable movie series because you don’t want to invest the time and effort might not be a big deal. But missing out on a relationship with God is not something to be taken lightly! Remember to keep an open mind, ask God for a teachable heart, have a positive attitude, stay focused, pray and study daily and ask questions! In return, these fundamental steps will aid you in building a stronger relationship with God.