Quick question, have you ever thought that your phone is listening to you?

 Maybe you noticed your Facebook ads changing after you mentioned something in a conversation. 

Maybe considered getting a dog and then were immediately bombarded with pages for animal lovers or talked about your travel plans and suddenly started receiving cheap flight ads to your exact destination. 

Were these just coincidences, or is your phone really spying on you?

According to an article in March of 2023 by Karolis Bareckas on nordvpn.com, the answer is yes, it is true that your phone is listening to you through virtual assistants via your device’s built-in microphone. 

In 2011, Apple introduced Siri, the first virtual assistant designed for iPhones. It paved the way for Alexa, Cortana and many others. 

They listen to your voice all the time and, after you trigger a special command, recognize you so you can make calls, send texts, ask questions and control your device.

It is legal if you’ve agreed to the terms and conditions of the service provider of your virtual assistant. 

For instance, if you’ve given your consent in your virtual assistant settings, it’s legal to track your conversations with Google Assistant, Siri or Alexa for marketing purposes. It only becomes illegal if an app is spying on you without your consent. That’s why it’s important to review the permissions you’re giving to certain services and learn about the ways your phone is tracking you. 

This is important, but what’s more important is who else is listening to you!

Listen to the psalmist, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Also in the book of Proverbs “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Even the Apostle Peter would remind us, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 

That’s not so much creepy as it is sobering. I’m not just talking tire pressure here, but all we do and why we do it! 

For those who have a close personal relationship with God this is comforting and helpful to say the least. 

A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. 

When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. 

The lad’s father, sensing the danger, hesitated to let his son go. 

The youngster reacted tearfully. 

“But Dad,” he pleaded, “all the other kids will be there. Their parents are letting them go.” 

The father thought for a moment, then replied softly, “All right, you may go.” 

Surprised but overjoyed, the boy bundled up and plunged into the raging storm. 

The driving snow made visibility almost impossible and it took him more than half an hour to trudge the short distance to the party. 

As he rang the doorbell, he turned briefly to look out into the storm. 

His eye caught the shadow of a retreating figure. 

It was his father. He had followed his son’s every step to make sure he arrived safely. That’s what God does for the Christ follower. He is always watching, always there. 

However, he not only observes those who know Him, but those who do not. 

Time-lapse photography compresses a series of events into one picture. 

Such a photo appeared in an issue of National Geographic. Taken from a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout the storm’s duration. 

The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spaghetti-like web out of the individual bolts. In such a way, our sin presents itself before the eyes of God. 

Where we see only isolated or individual acts, God sees the overall web of sins influence in and on our lives. 

What may seem insignificant, even sporadic, to us and passes with hardly a notice creates a much more dramatic display from God’s panoramic viewpoint. 

If a man-made object can hear and respond to a casual conversation, how much more does the eye of God see in the heart of His creation. 

Does the way God observes you now the way you want to look when you stand before Him one day? What’s God seeing and hearing in your life today?

Tim Throckmorton is the national director of Family Resource Council’s Community Impact Teams.