Do not be conformed to this age, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the
good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
I tend to be just
a bit ADD when it comes to life. (I'm like the dog in the movie UP..."Squirrel!") The problem with me isn't just purely distraction. Instead it stems from several things, not the
least of which is the fact that I enjoy doing a lot of things.
I love to write,
read, hang out with friends, knit, craft—the list goes on and on and on.
But the fact that
I love so many things has often led me astray. I’m easily distracted and
confused.
In the past I’ve
gotten off-track because I’d mistaken doing something well with being called to
do something.
To keep myself
out of trouble and focused on what God has called me to do I’ve had to learn to
walk closely with Him.
I’ve had to make
certain my relationship with God is established, lest I risk getting entangled
in something He hasn’t called me to do.
I’ve learned that
the evil one loves nothing better than catching me unaware and entangling me in
his worldly priorities.
This has proved
the case for my spiritual life—whether or not a agree to do something at church
or in ministry. It’s been true with my friends and family—I have to guard those
relationships that God has given me as a priority. And it’s especially been
important in my writing life—I’ve had to learn to say no to the good to make sure
I have time for the best.
I’ve learned that
the evil one loves nothing better than catching me unaware and entangling me in
his worldly priorities.
The phrase that I
have taped to the top of my desk is this:
Just because I
can doesn’t mean I should.
I really liked your post. I have found it so true many times in my life, but I have also found sometimes I get so obsessed in following God I don't realize he made a turn a few blocks back. Mainly because I am looking at things from my point of view. Sometimes he arranges and makes things happen that are definitely God "things." When they happen I try to open my eyes and see what God is saying in the situation through what I see and hear. God is still talking to us. The real question is am I listening. Unfortunately I sometimes pick up a verse, when I should have been listening to the whole context it was used in. I recently had something I have believed for 30 years totally transformed by reading the whole chapter and not just the verse I loved to quote.
ReplyDeleteYep, it is easy to get off-track when we're not abiding in the Vine. Excellent post. I especially loved, "I’ve had to learn to say no to the good to make sure I have time for the best." It makes me wonder about what I've given priority to that may not be God's best. Hmm... Thanks for the food for thought. ;-)
ReplyDelete