“My life’s hanging on by duct tape and happy thoughts” someone said the other day.
Many of us are hitting emotional pot-holes due to this broken-by-sin world we live in. Broken health. Broken relationships. Broken expectations. Broken…
Not enough duct tape and happy thoughts in the world to keep us sane and joyful. But God’s Word can.
Here are four thieves that steal my attention, and steer my affection from the Scriptures.
TIME-WASTERS
Most Time-Wasters have something to do with our eyes fixed to a screen indulging us in mindless entertainment. I have nothing against checking emails, the news, the weather… or even a good movie. But, God has something to say about waisting our time.
We own nothing. Not our health. Not our wealth. Not even our time. We are just managers of these gifts from God.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV
ATTENTION-STEALERS
If I’m reading Acts 16:1, but by verse ten I’ve completed making my shopping list. There’s a problem.
And if only I had to compete with my thoughts.
There’s the phone too… The open flood-gate of reminders, text-messages, alerts, emails, phone-calls, likes and hearts… which hurry me to close the Book to get more things done.
I’ve learned two principles:
“A short pencil is better than a long memory.” (So, I stop my Bible reading to jot down my shopping list if it’s disruptive.)
And a face-up Bible is better than a face-up phone. (So, I turn my phone on silent, put it face down… or even keep it away from me as I read. )
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 ESV
ENERGY-GRABBERS
As I wake up, my restless feet waltz between the kitchen, the laundry room, into the car… and to my long-list of errands. Before I know it, I checked so much on my list except my spending quality time in the Bible.
I tell myself, I’ll read tonight when the world’s back to sleep. But, little do I know… so will I. So will I fall asleep praying while holding my precious Bible.
As my husband preached one Sunday “If Satan can’t make me sin, he’ll keep me busy.”
My errands, my tasks, my job, my kids, my workout… all good things, but they will drain me of my limited amount of energy I am blessed with each day.
While these worldly things make me stressed, God’s Word gives me zest. Why not treat it as a first button on a shirt? When first button goes in the first hook, the rest of the buttons will naturally fall into their places.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV
BREATH-TAKERS
Shocking news, health crisis, emotional tensions take our breath away like a sharp wind on a blizzard day. But even when I go through I-don’t-feel-like-reading moments, I make myself read the Bible.
Not long ago I hit some emotional pot-holes. I told my kids “Mommy is going on a date-night with Jesus … on our tiny balcony.” And I did. I carried my dinner platter, some blankets, my music… and my heart to worship. It did some amazing healing.
We need daily-dates with Jesus no matter what our emotions, or circumstances tell us.
[Now, when my girls see me lack patience they ask “Mommy, are you going tonight on a date-night with Jesus? ‘Cause it’s okay if you need to.” A gentle nudge from my kids to go on a date with Jesus, because even little eyes have seen the difference in me.]
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 NIV
Last fall, I attended a workshop on Social Media and Technology. The speaker explained how its users are divided in two: Digital Visitors (those who look online for an address, or make an order, check an email), and Digital Residents (those who live online to connect, to laugh, to be… a good percentage of their life is lived online).
With that image in mind, I ask myself “Am I a Bible Visitor, or a Bible Resident? Do I come to the Scriptures occasionally to check out the address for a verse on worry, and leave? Or, do I live in the Scriptures permanently?”
My life doesn’t have to hang on by duct tape and happy thoughts… I will run out of these. If I reside in the Scriptures, I will see that God’s never out of stock of His uplifting words and practical principles to live life, and live it in a godly way.
Let’s be aware of these thieves that will steal our daily-dates with Jesus.