I've been thinking a lot about distractions lately. I don't know why because I feel as though I have been more focused and more in-tune with what I feel called to than I have ever been in my life BUT, there are certain things that distract me heavily that have surfaced in the past few months. I'm going to write what I feel at the risk of coming across as "over-spiritualizing"things because, well... It's my blog and I can :-). If you've been reading my stuff lately you probably understand that I have enjoyed and am enjoying a season of seeing God truly at work in my life, and in lives around me. I am seeing doors open in places I never thought, but always dreamed, they would open. I'm seeing the lives of my friends and family change and being overpowered by the majesty of the Almighty and MAN, is it amazing! My zeal, and my desire to learn more about God and to become closer to my Everlasting Father has become unquenchable, and I love it! The last thing I want, or need, are distractions to take away my focus on what I have been made to do. I'm currently devouring AW Tozer's "The Pursuit of God" and it's freeking MIND-BLOWING! There's a quote from this book that has run through my mind since first reading it 2 weeks ago: "Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. HE WAITS TO BE WANTED." And this is my purpose. Forget everything I have ever claimed to have wanted to do in this life, everything I have wanted out of this world. What I want is Christ's manifestation in my life, and for this alone I will strive for. Nothing else matters anymore. It's taken me way too long to get to this place of realization. Maybe it was all just a matter of finally letting go of the bitterness that had callused my heart for so many years that I thought I had taken care of years ago. Letting go was the hardest, and best thing I have done. You can't give Christ yourself, and still hang on to bits and pieces, if you want Him to do what He wants to do in you. ESPECIALLY if the piece your hanging onto goes against Christ's character, and is something He was like "hey, don't be this way ok? Ok!" about.
Booooom! I know it may not always happen this way but when I let go, God started to really move. I now realize I was COMPLETELY in the way of allowing Christ to answer the prayers I had been praying for such a long time, including the prayers of removing this obstacle! Man, I am fickle!
So! Here I am, so excited and hungry for every little revelation of Christ reveled in every little way, and even big ways...
So how does one stay focused, and keep distractions to an all time low? I'm finding my biggest help is cultivating my prayer life. The more time you spend in prayer, in contact with the Father, the more time you're focusing on Him. That interaction is vital, most of us know this, but many of us don't really spend much time with Him in this way. I certainly didn't, but as I spend more and more time in prayer I crave it, and I understand even more that this is detrimental to my life. Another way is studying, and meditating on The Word. If you're a Christian who believes that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, then why would you not spend ample time studying His word? I struggled with "getting into it" for many years in the beginning of my walk with God but now, I feel so at peace, and more like "this is what I am made for" when i'm studying the Bible. I may not understand parts of it, and i'm a terrible teacher who struggles in relaying parts to others but my spirit is so alive when I'm studying. Another way to aid in staying focus is attending church. So many struggle with this, and get really ticked off about Christians calling others out on this but there is a reason church's gathered in the New Testament. There's a reason churches gathered when the threat of being killed for doing so was likely. There is a reason churches gather in countries where it is against the law for them to do so. Church is important. Having a body of believers that know you, that can rally around you in prayer, that can help keep you accountable, that can call you out IN LOVE when your screwing up, that can cry with you, and celebrate with you, and worship our Redeemer with you is so valuable. I have gone through spurts of not going to church over the years, and every one of those spurts stunted my spiritual growth. I made very valid excuses to not go, and ultimately I hurt myself in it, but not only myself I took away from the Body of Christ in taking me out of being all those things to someone who may have needed them. DISCLAIMER- I do not believe one needs to go to church to be a Christian, or to be saved and go do Heaven, I do however, believed church is imperative to become a mature Christian. END DISCLAIMER. Churches come in all shapes and sizes and as long as it is a Christ-centered, Bible teaching establishment with a family of believers who you can connect with in the ways above, it's church.
Recap- to help me stay focused on Christ, and avoid un-needed, and un-wanted distractions my suggestions are: 1. PRAY PRAY PRAY 2. READ READ READ 3. CHURCH CHURCH CHURCH.
Keep your focus on the Lord and ask Him to reveal areas in your life that your struggling giving up to Him. Don't make the same mistake I made and waste years holding on to something He was so willing and ready to take.
Blessings!
~Jennanana
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