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not being distracted [+] Friday E-Devotion

"Key to focus is to clear the mind of unnecessary distractions. Now I just need to learn how to do that."  Ron Edmondson 

As I read that thought and began to prepare for our 48 Hours of Praying & Fasting God said some things to my heart that I now have to get off my chest.  Honesty is the only way.  One of our core values at The Community is authenticity which means to be real.

The two items that distract me the most are busyness and lust.  There, I said it.  If we take what most recovery programs say, then admitting you have a problem is the first step to healing.  So, God heal me from these distractions.  I wish God would remove them, but as one of our wise Community family members said last night 'God didn't make us puppets.' (How true!)

Most of the distractions that come into our lives come because we let them.  OUCH!  Did you hear that?  We let them in for one reason or another.  Maybe it is insecurity.  May the reason is not being organized.  But most likely, and what God is speaking to me, the biggest reason is lack of focusing on Him, on the right one.

This weekend brings SO MANY good things our way.  More baptisms at The Community Fellowship.  My parents coming town.  Beginning a new series in Habakkuk.  Concentrated time of prayer and fasting. But it is vital to see that the distractions go away and that God gets more of us. 

Colossians 3:2 (nlt) --- Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. (my favorite and most quoted verse by me)

Hebrews 12:2 (The Message) --- Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.

Get honest with yourself.  Point your mind and your heart in a powerful direction, not the direction that will distract us and make us powerless.  Not easy to do.  But this will make a huge difference in how God can and will work in our lives.  

God, help me and all of us to focus on you and leave those things distract us behind.  Thank you for your grace to get through, your mercy that holds us tight and your kindness that often extends through what we do for others that points to you.  Remove the distracts or at least give us the wisdom and passion to remove the things that keep us from seeing and seeking you.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Get honest about what distracts you.  Set you mind on God while removing the stuff that trips you up.  Take your thoughts and plans back from the enemy like this:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (nasb) --- We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Have a great weekend!

Comments

Ron Edmondson said…
Michael, this is a great reminder to me that Twitter works, small statements we make really matter, and that some people can take a small idea and make it into something great. Great post!
November 14, 2008 at 9:43:00 AM EST
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