How to Stay Focused on Time With God and Not the Distractions of Illness and Other Things
29 Sep 2010 4 Comments
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“Let us pass through your country. We will stay on the main road; we will not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (Deuteronomy 2:27)
One of the jokes in our family is that we “chase chickens.” I’ve talked about a T-shirt I saw in a catalog that said, “People say I have ADD but what they don’t understand is. . .Oh, Look! A chicken!” As I do get distracted easily, my family now says I am off “chickening.” It seems like a funny inside joke – the kind that families and friends share.
Now, however, I am realizing how many “chickens” there are in my spiritual life. It seems as if I continually seem to wander off the main road! Now, don’t get me wrong, I know where I want to go and have every intention of staying on the main road, but. . . darn those chickens!
My chickens? Watching TV or playing on Facebook–even playing computer games. Yes, they are good for a break. But when I find I am neglecting my time with God I realize I’ve traveled off that main road!
It used to be an easy excuse to say I was “too busy” to spend the time with God that I claimed I wanted to. Now, with the constraints of my illness, I really have no excuses. And I’m realizing how different my life gets when I do neglect God and go running off after chickens.
I can no longer say, “I don’t have time.” I can’t say “Well, I can’t get to church. (Our church posts the sermons online now.) I can’t even say I’ve no music to listen to. My iTunes is full of uplifting music.
So, what is my excuse? I don’t have one except that I need to learn the discipline to stay on that main road – and not turn to the left or to the right. I need to simply follow Him. Everything else will fall in to place.
It’s amazing how much better my body feels when my spirit is on the main road.
About the author:
deni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple challenges (Ankylosing Spondylitis, Porphyria, Celiac Sprue, and Atrial Fibrillation to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest desire that her lessons may be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic health challenges. She can be reached at EncouragingWords@me.com. Her website is http://www.pathwaysforchange.com/Encouragement.
Sep 29, 2010 @ 12:34:41
Thank you for your insights. It is so easy to begin to wander–we are blessed that we have His Spirit with us so we do not get lost.
Sep 29, 2010 @ 13:36:43
Hi deni – oh how true for all of us to wander off in thoughts or in actions with the intent to “get back” to God.
We surely take Him with us wherever we “go” but how nice if we let Him lead us in these directions knowing we have invited Him along!
I always appreciate your devotionals. Thanks, once again.
Love,
Lynn
Sep 29, 2010 @ 21:50:29
Patricia and Lynn
Thank you both for your comments. Yes, how blessed we are that we can only wander – and not get lost!
It’s such a blessing to know we will always find our way back!
In Him,
deni