Dazed, Confused, and Distracted.

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect". ~ Romans 12:2 (NLT)

//We ask "Why" so often. Why can't I do this? Why did this happen? Why won't God answer me? One thing I've noticed, though, is that we rarely question ourselves. What am I doing that is hindering my progress? What am I not doing that is disconnecting me with God? What kind of tactics am I allowing the devil to use in hindering my relationship with God? These are the vital questions we should be asking.

There are so many things that serve as distractions, but what do your distractions appear to be? What is it that you may do, listen to, watch or read that is creating a distraction from God and living for His glory? 

About 3 months ago I was struggling to hear from God on an important decision that I was running out of time to make. Basically, I didn't know what God's Will was for me at the moment and I was confused as to why I wasn't hearing Him speak to me. It was pointed out to me that this struggle could all be caused by my own doing. Although, not until this morning did I realize that it was true. I was, for a lack of better words, the victim of my own crimes. I don't watch television too often, but when I do it's only certain series. One series in particular struck me as having a great impact on my relationship with God. It was by no means the most appropriate show. I justified watching it by telling myself I knew what was right from wrong. Let me fill you in on something. Trying to justify your actions such as I did is not really living for Christ. Rather it is living 50/50 for Christ and yourself. Romans 12:2 makes it crystal clear. We are not to conform to the behaviors of this world we live in. But we do it anyway! Of course I wasn't going to have clear direction from God because I was creating barriers that cut Him out of areas of my life. He needs all of us, every part of us in order to clearly express His Will. 

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My distraction is definitely the television series I choose to watch. It may be frivolous to think that television would have such an impact on your relationship with God but we need to start realizing that our distractions truly do. 

Think about what distracts you from pursuing the Lord. Maybe it is television. Or it could be certain aspects of social gatherings that you get caught up in. Even books can have an impact on your relationship with God. So, what is it? What are the things that distract you and what will you do about it? Continue to justify them, compromising your relationship with the Lord? That sounds like you're sitting on the fence. We need to ask whether our distractions are more important that pursuing God and His glory.

To really know God's good, acceptable, and perfect Will we need to not be conformed to this world and all of it's flashing lights, only giving God certain areas of our lives. Once we figure this out we begin to transform, being able to know His Will for our lives.  

I encourage you to write down your distractions and make an action plan of how you will make it a habit to not partake in them. Counteract your distractions with a positive form such as instead of listening to inappropriate music listen to music that praises God.  

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Transformations take time and practice. So, don't give up after the first try. God is waiting patiently, with His arms open wide. He is cheering for you to overcome these obstacles and for you to know His plans for your life.

Peace & <3

Samantha 

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Expectations & Grace.

Our expectations should be in the perfection of Christ, which won’t be attained until we reach eternity. Having expectations for perfection in earthly, human, sinful beings will only set yourself up to tear others down. When we expect others to be perfect and they don't attain that goal then we become increasingly aware of their failures. I know for myself I’ve expected others to grasp and apply Godly counsel to their own lives the moment after they learn it whether through prayer, worship or a message.

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I create this almost unattainable goal for someone. This goal isn’t even something I’d create for myself because I know that I may mess up and most likely take time and practice to apply it on a daily basis. But I don’t give others this kind of grace. I set the bar high, I expect them to follow- through and attain it and when they don't attain it I’m disappointed; I create animosity toward that person and react on that. I’m pretty sure this is the exact opposite of how God expects us to act.

Even if the person understands the lesson, proclaims they’ll apply it but continuously never does we are still called to give grace and mercy to them. We are not called to be judges. We are not called to be holier than thou. We are called to be examples, just as Christ was. We are called to possess the characteristics of Jesus but when we raise the bar to the highest point for others and lower it for ourselves we are nowhere near being Christ-like.

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We’ve got to realize this is evil, that this is sinful. Changing someone is God’s authority, not ours. We can only be vessels that express a Christ-like life!

[This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have hope for others. Our hope needs to be grounded in God, though, not in human abilities.]

The more your life consistently expresses Christ, the more people will notice how God has directed your life. Why would I expect others to be perfect when I know that I could never be? I know that this is something that may take a while to become habitual. It still doesn't always come easy to me to give grace to others. Grace does go a long way but first we need to learn how to accept the grace given to us from God. If we don't know how to accept this gift and live a life on the foundation of this gift we will certainly not be able to give it freely without conditions to others around us. God is waiting to humble you and teach you His way of giving grace. Take to the Scriptures and talking with the Lord for direction about grace. He will answer. He will show you. Just ask. 

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Romans 14:1-4
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Give Grace. Grace Has Been Given To You. 

Peace & <3,

Samantha 

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