The Place of Jabbok
The Place of Jabbok is found in Genesis 32:22, when during the night, Jacob, afraid of meeting his brother Esau (after what he had done
Let’s to talk about Distractions, shall we? And let’s hit the nail right on the head and talk about getting distracted in our walk with God.
Distracted with comparison (comparing our lives and journeys to those of those others); distracted with trying to accumulate wealth; distracted by our physical appearance and whether we are ‘pretty enough’ according to society’s standards; distracted by trying to gain the approval of people, or even, distracted by the storms & hurdles of life.
Let's talk about getting Distracted by the pursuits of this World
As believers, many at times, we lose focus; we get distracted and so consumed with trying to do so many things i.e., making it in life, making loads of money, being successful in your career, being known and recognized in society etc., and ore often than not, we don’t realize that we have gotten distracted.
Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with setting goals for your life and wanting to better yourself, your career and even your financial status!
But just look at the definition of ‘distract’: it is to divert (attention) from something or someone, or to divert one’s attention from something unpleasant by doing something different or more pleasurable.
Things or people that distract divert one’s attention and prevent them from concentrating or focusing on what is before them; from focusing on the task that is before them and from even doing it well are DISTRACTIONS.
Now, as mentioned earlier, there is nothing wrong with having desires, goals and even wanting to make something out of your life. However, the problem comes in when it draws you away from the main goal – following Christ – and it prevents you from running your race of faith
For Example, Money
Lets use money as an example of money, shall we??
Now, money is not in and of itself evil. We need money to buy food, clothes, pay fees etc,. Money is the currency of the world and we need it to sustain our physical lives. So, then, how can it be inherently evil?
Now, see what 1 Timothy 6:10 says about money:
For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.
See the scripture says that the love of money, that is the greedy desire for money + the willingness to do anything to obtain it, IS what is the ROOT of evil.
Not money itself, BUT the unquenchable and intense, fervent ambition to get money to the point that you’re willing to do anything (morals and values out the window) to get it.
Once your focus; once your heart shifts from Christ and from pursuing Him, His will and His way to these pursuits; to getting what you want, child of God, you have become distracted. You are no longer living for Christ, but for self and the gratification of your selfish desires.
You are now pursuing the appetites of the world.
Appetites of the World
Believer, the world has sold us the lie that these pursuits; the gratification of our flesh and attainment of worldly treasure is what we need to do & what makes us happy.
But see what 1 John 2:16 says: that none of these things come from the Father but from the world.
"For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world."
And when you let these desires become your key focus and main pursuit, you forget your first love.
Why? The love of these things “squeezes out” the love of the Father in you and isolates you from him.
"Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity."
And as a result of being isolated from God, you wander away from the faith and end up walking down a road that you shouldn’t be on, as Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10, you “piercing yourself [through and through] with many sorrows.”
Its time to turn back, and Return to Our First Love
I wonder how many of us, today, right now, have gotten distracted with the things this world? With the pursuits, and treasures of this world?
How many of us have allowed the love of the Father to be sucked out of us as a result of diverting our attention from Jesus, and wandering off to pursue all these things?
"But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]."
But each time we wander off, our Shepherd leaves the 99 to come searching for us, calling us by name, so we can return to Him.
So that He can restore us back to Him, that we may continue to walk and commune with Him.
Daughter of God, Son of God,
Its time to get back. It’s time to return to your first love. Its time to let go of these empty pursuits, and run after & pursue God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
Its time to stop allowing yourself to be distracted by the fading treasures of this world and fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; the one who was, who is, and is to come and who is coming back again.
He is waiting for you. He is Calling you. Your Shepherd is calling you.
CALL TO ACTION
Today, I invite you to pray this prayer of repentance and surrender as you lay down all you have pursued that has taken the place of God in your life.
“Father in the name of Jesus, I come before you this [morning, afternoon, evening] humbling myself before your throne.
I repent of every sin of omission and commission and I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me with your precious blood.
I also repent of being so consumed with the empty pursuits of this world. By being caught up in [mention what distracted you and consumed your heart, mind & actions] and losing sight of you.
I forsook you and forgot about you, my first love.
I lay it all down King Jesus and I turn back to you. I refuse to let those desires take center stage in my life. You are my everything; you are all I want and all I will ever need.
Cleanse me and renew my mind, heart and a steadfast spirit within me.
Let your Holy Spirit guide me that I may learn to fix my eyes on you at all times, no matter what.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.“
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hello & welcome.
My name is Renee, the founder of and main content creator for UnScripted.
Thank you so much for stopping by and I pray you get encouraged and your faith is stirred while you’re here, as we are here to empower you to be the woman God wants you to be.
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2 Responses
Such a good read and I love the verses you used.
Thank you!!
I am glad you loved it!!
Remember to share it with someone!