Intention And Discipline
The Lord has been revealing to me areas of my life where I can depend upon him to implement spiritual disciplines. Often I think we hear of spiritual disciplines and we think of sitting in a quiet corner of a room in solitude while we are fasting and laundry is piling up, kids are screaming, and our phone is vibrating off the counter with text messages. While there is definitely a time and place for solitude and fasting, applying spiritual disciplines to our lives does not mean we must drop everything.
I have written a lot about feeling the need for a true break. I have also written about how the Lord has shown me rather than needing a true break I need to TRUELY rest in God. That until my soul is at rest in Him I will not feel any rest in life.
As the Lord has been teaching me about resting in Him I have realized there are spiritual disciplines I can apply to my life that will help me keep my focus on Him and my soul at rest in Him. I began to evaluate areas of my life that were in competition with the Lord. Where did my biggest distractions stem from?
As I was intentional about evaluating this challenge an answer came to me that I did not want to acknowledge. Technology...specifically social media. I found myself constantly checking Facebook on my phone, iPad, and computer. I was on Facebook while I was in the pick up line at school (when the car was in park...or at least driving very slowly...you've done it too). I found myself on Facebook when I literally had one minute free. Why? Do I really need to be bombarded with the likes or dislikes of my Facebook friends weather preference for the day? No. I found the Lord nudging me that this was an area where I could make more time for Him and allow my soul to be continually at rest in Him.
As I contemplated this challenge I knew I could simply take Facebook off my phone and iPad. However; this is the girl who took Facebook off her phone one time and it lasted about three hours. I have learned there is beauty in obedience to the Lord and knew I at least needed to attempt deleting this distraction from my life. So...goodbye Facebook and hello grabbing for my phone in the pick up line and feeling naked because Facebook was gone. Sound extreme? Yes. Do most of you know what I am talking about? Yes.
I have kept Facebook off my phone for several weeks now and this trivial thing has truly been a spiritual discipline of focusing on God. When I would be scrolling through posts for a minute, I am praying instead. When I want to pick my phone up for a quick mindless break, I am thinking and praying for others.
I still check Facebook...on my computer which is not along with me at all times. I don't feel like I have missed anything. I only feel like there is one less distraction in my life. It is beautiful to allow God to continue to mold us and shape us even when it is in little ways such as this. Sometimes the littlest distractions can become the biggest distractions in our lives spiritually.
We must be intentional about taking the steps to applying disciplines to our life. To be willing to take the time to pray about any distractions that stand between you and your relationship with God. He longs to dwell within us but we have to be intentional about ALLOWING Him.
I have written a lot about feeling the need for a true break. I have also written about how the Lord has shown me rather than needing a true break I need to TRUELY rest in God. That until my soul is at rest in Him I will not feel any rest in life.
As the Lord has been teaching me about resting in Him I have realized there are spiritual disciplines I can apply to my life that will help me keep my focus on Him and my soul at rest in Him. I began to evaluate areas of my life that were in competition with the Lord. Where did my biggest distractions stem from?
As I was intentional about evaluating this challenge an answer came to me that I did not want to acknowledge. Technology...specifically social media. I found myself constantly checking Facebook on my phone, iPad, and computer. I was on Facebook while I was in the pick up line at school (when the car was in park...or at least driving very slowly...you've done it too). I found myself on Facebook when I literally had one minute free. Why? Do I really need to be bombarded with the likes or dislikes of my Facebook friends weather preference for the day? No. I found the Lord nudging me that this was an area where I could make more time for Him and allow my soul to be continually at rest in Him.
As I contemplated this challenge I knew I could simply take Facebook off my phone and iPad. However; this is the girl who took Facebook off her phone one time and it lasted about three hours. I have learned there is beauty in obedience to the Lord and knew I at least needed to attempt deleting this distraction from my life. So...goodbye Facebook and hello grabbing for my phone in the pick up line and feeling naked because Facebook was gone. Sound extreme? Yes. Do most of you know what I am talking about? Yes.
I have kept Facebook off my phone for several weeks now and this trivial thing has truly been a spiritual discipline of focusing on God. When I would be scrolling through posts for a minute, I am praying instead. When I want to pick my phone up for a quick mindless break, I am thinking and praying for others.
I still check Facebook...on my computer which is not along with me at all times. I don't feel like I have missed anything. I only feel like there is one less distraction in my life. It is beautiful to allow God to continue to mold us and shape us even when it is in little ways such as this. Sometimes the littlest distractions can become the biggest distractions in our lives spiritually.
We must be intentional about taking the steps to applying disciplines to our life. To be willing to take the time to pray about any distractions that stand between you and your relationship with God. He longs to dwell within us but we have to be intentional about ALLOWING Him.
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