"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)
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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