Pressing on Through The Distractions

As of late I've been laid up on my couch with a broken ankle. I go in for surgery this Friday so they can screw a plate into my bone. I can't wait... really. When I broke my ankle I asked God how this fit into His Will. I asked what He would teach me through this trial. I figured that I would have plenty of time to study God's word being off my feet for a few weeks. The sad thing is, I broke my ankle ten days ago and today is the first day I've opened my bible to actually spend quality time with my God. Sure I've done a couple topical studies on worship, which is what I've heard God calling me to devote my study time to. In fact the name of this blog translated means true heart worship. But what I realized is, without an active daily seeking of God, my studies are fruitless.

In today's world it is so easy to become distracted from actively seeking God. Satan's influence is so ingrained into our social structure we hardly notice anymore. His lies and deceptions have managed to saturate the very core of our society. You can see his influences in our media, our government, our schools and unfortunately, The Church. With each passing generation, truth, morals, and values become more relative to each individual than to the Will of God.

This should come as no surprise, Christian. How much easier is it to pick up the remote rather than your Bible? Why are we so easily caught up in the politics of our government instead of an intimate relationship with God? Why are we more concerned with foreign affairs and the involvement of our nation than we are the spiritual well being of our families and Church? I could ask these questions all day and we would continue to sit here and nod our heads in agreement that a change needs to be made. Then we'd get all fired up and vow to make a difference only to watch our fire dwindle because we refuse to feed it with a daily relationship with God? I would, that's been my SOP (standard operating procedure) for as long as I can remember.
When we get on fire for God and begin actively seeking Him, satan pulls out all the stops. He uses his distractions to pull our focus away from God for a moment so he can step up and plant condemnation in our heart. He slithers up behind us and says,
"You've failed your God! You can't make a difference, why even try?"
Christian, you have a counter to this lie. It's found in Romans;

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

- Romans 8:1

This is a great truth to pick yourself up after that nasty stumble or fall, dust yourself off and press on.

Every day we must get up and decide to put on our running shoes instead of our lounge slippers and run that race God has set us apart for. We cannot let ourselves become distracted by the temporary trophies of this world. Our prize is eternity with God the Father and Jesus.

1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

-Hebrews 12:1-2

The secret is to never be content with where we are in Christ. Never be satisfied, always desire to go deeper. I like the way Tozer put best;

They are athirst for God, and

they will not be satisfied till they have

drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water.

A.W. Tozer

The Pursuit of God