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Lord! something feels off. I’ve been praying and reading your word but you seem so distant. This was me praying about four months ago, my relationship with God felt off and I just couldn’t place a finger on what the problem was. So, I took a step back and did some soul searching, the Holy Spirit then revealed that I was distracted and my heart wasn’t in the right place.
Honestly, for a while, I was very focused on building my website. I spent most of my time researching, trying to learn new ways to improve my business, and make money. Though I was still reading my bible and praying, my heart was preoccupied and distracted causing a disruption of the flow in my relationship with God.
This event made me think about how we could go about our daily routine and activities without even realizing that our hearts have become distracted.
Distractions can make even the spiritual things we do, become more of a ritual. when this happens, it’s only a matter of time before our desire for the things of God diminishes.
Understanding Distractions
A distraction is anything that direct’s your attention or focus away from God. Its’s one of the key strategy used by the enemy against us. Distractions come in different ways, some of which are
Worry
Fear
Disappointment
Love of money
Excessive love for self
Friends
Social media
Smartphones
Relationships
Unforgiveness
Jealousy
Stress
Whatever it is for you, mentally add it to the list. One thing I’m learning is that God will not take second place. He desires and requires that we put Him first. If we don’t, we run the risk of stunting our spiritual growth.
Allowing distractions in our lives is idolatrous.
Idolatry is defined as an immoderate attachment or devotion to something; and this is exactly what happens when we are distracted.
Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.- Matthew 6:33
This bible verse brings to perspective what truly matters, which is the kingdom of God. Seeking other things first will cause you to lose your desire for God in the long run. But seeking God first protects your hearts and also provides your needs.
God cares about your heart
So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the well spring of life. -Proverbs 4:23(TPT)
God wouldn’t tell us to guard our heart if it wasn’t necessary. The heart is the seat of our innermost feelings and everything we do flows out of it. When a heart is unguarded, anything can enter causing it to become polluted.
A polluted heart will then produce polluted results, whether in thoughts, words, or actions which could potentially disrupt the free-flowing relationship with the Father and even destroy our lives.
Just as you’d guard and protect the things that are important to you, in the same way, you must guard your heart.
Guarding Your heart is a necessity, not an option. This means that you must become defensively alert and watchful, in what you SEE, HEAR, THINK & SPEAK.
Decide today to
Guard your heart against worry
Guard your heart against fear and doubt
Guard your heart against the love of money
Guard your heart against worldly pleasures
Feeling Distracted? Here’s what you can do:
Identify Distractions- Some distractions are pretty obvious, but some aren’t, and will require you to seek God to reveal them. Remember that God knows your heart and He wants to help you be free from anything that could hinder your relationship with Him.
Make Genuine Changes- Identifying distraction without making changes, will keep you in the same position. Make changes by writing down ways in which you can improve and set plans in place on how to achieve them. ( Not by your own power but through God’s help)
Be Patient- Transformation doesn’t always happen overnight. But as long as you’re willing and obedient, that which you desire will soon become a reality.
Through all of this, remember that God will never leave you. He is right there with you, waiting for your heart to be refocused on Him.
GOD LOVES YOU.
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