Are you distracted?
Wow. I did not realize that it has been almost a month since my last post. Eek.
The days sure fly by, don’t they?
Kids are growing. Activities swirling. Life is moving right along.
Sound familiar?
My goal has been to try to stop and smell the roses each day. It is hard. Very hard some days.
There is always something to do it seems.
I have been trying, really trying to make more of an effort to do what is really important to me.
Like, calling my mom.
Or, surprising my kids with something small just because.
Or, texting someone I have not spoken to in a while to check on them.
Or, listening, really listening, when my husband tells me about his day at work.
Or, having a more gentle tone with my kids instead of constantly nagging.
Living intentional. And undistracted.
That is my goal.
In January, I began a new bible reading plan. It is simple, and I love it.
It is not a lot to read each day, but just enough so that I can read more if I have time, or just sit and ponder and pray about what I just read.
It suits my life in this season. It helps me to stay intentional in my Bible reading.
Since I love to journal as well, it gives me the time to do that after I read the passages in scripture.
I just finished the book of Acts. Goodness. I find myself underlining almost every passage.
Paul was intentional. And bold. And focused.
I want to be like Paul!!
But, I wonder if Paul would have struggled like we all do if he had a cell phone, and texting, and social media, and all the THINGS we have attached ourselves to.
Paul was intentional about praying, and preaching, and rebuking, and loving, and encouraging.
But, he also was a lot like us. I know this because of this very passage Paul wrote in the book of Romans…
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, :it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:15-20
Okay, so Paul is human! Just like us.
He was probably distracted. More likely by angry mobs than by a cell phone, but distracted none the least.
So, how do we untie ourselves from all of this distraction? How do we actually do what we want to do and not what we don’t want to do?
How do we start being intentional in our days?
I am still learning this. So, bear with me.
First, seek God in His Word.
Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and all of these things shall be given to us.
So, our purpose becomes clearer when we seek Him.
All the distractions fade away and the goal becomes clear…Seek God first.
Second, pray.
I try to follow the ACTS way of praying. Are you familiar?
It goes like this..
A=Adoration
C=Confession
T=Thanksgiving
S=Supplication
It just makes sense to me. It also keeps me focused and intentional so I am not always wandering off in my thoughts. (Which is why I often write down my prayers.)
The last thing I am really working on, is praying all throughout my day. Talking to Jesus as He is right beside me. Because He IS.
I ask Him to give me spiritual eyes to see others, see things, hear others, hear things…that I would not see or hear if my spirit was not fine tuned to His.
This practice will greatly reduce distraction.
Sometimes, encounters He brings will seem like a distraction…when in fact it is part of His plan for you that day.
Think about the bleeding woman that touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. She was immediately healed. Jesus stopped in his tracks and noticed her.
Ahhh. This story just melts me.
Jesus saw people. He heard people. He felt people.
Lord, let us do the same.
Let us take our eyes off of our selves and our phones and our reputations and accomplishments…and focus on OTHERS.
Ok, this post is not going where I had planned. I must really need to hear those very words I am typing profusely.
Distractions are deadly to our relationships.
Pure and simple.
The life of Jesus and of Paul show us the importance of relationships.
We need them. We need each other.
We need to stay focused, not just on being a better person, but on helping others to be better. Iron sharpening iron.
Jesus said it best…
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37
We will never regret loving others.
It will be our legacy.
But, we must be intentional.
And undistracted.
a work in progress,
jill
