Our focus is often drawn away by intruding thoughts and our surroundings. It is easy to get distracted, so we have to train ourselves. This is why meditation and the chants are important. After some time being intentional and trying to focus on God without distractions, it gets easier to keep our focus on Him. While I was thinking about this point, I started considering, "Am I being intentional? Am I fully focused, or do I sometimes simply go through the motions in my head during worship (AKA zoning out because I stayed up all night but still singing)?"
I have developed a routine aside from my daily devotionals and readings to help me be more intentional. Firstly, I begin each day with praise. When I wake up, I thank Jesus for another day living and breathing. I praise Him for His sacrifice, love and grace before I read my verse of the day. Proclaiming God's love is exceedingly good for you, because when you declare His wonders, it strengthens your relationship. As I get ready to sleep, I read my daily devotion and take notes. Then, I look back over the day thank Him again for everything He did for me throughout that day. I pray until I fall asleep.
This has changed my life! I have strengthened my relationship with Him drastically, which bleeds into every aspect of my life. Because I have such a good relationship with Him, I am aware of Him at all times. This has helped me to not be distracted so easily.
I responded to Brooke Hutcheson and Micah Powers.
Distractions are in abundance in modern society, mainly in the form of various media and streaming/video services, whether it be gaming, binge watching television series, etc. I admire the discipline it takes to eliminate distractions in one's life, especially when it comes to starting new habits or breaking old ones. Philippians 4:26 speaks of us needing to bring our requests before God while having constant prayer and supplication of the word as the motive behind our actions. Super relatable, good post!
ReplyDeleteI think that your idea of getting rid or decreasing distractions also goes along with Paul's concept of praying unceasingly. When we put God at the forefront of our thoughts and intentions and continually confirm that he is behind every action we are doing, then its almost as if it pushes away most of those tiny but persistent distractions.
ReplyDeleteCreating both a clean and cleansed headspace is so incredibly important. As Christians, especially, we need to be careful about what we allow to enter our minds. If we are not careful, the bad can blot out the good and soon, it will become all that we can think about. Eventually, our infected thoughts will seep out of our mouths like a destructive poison. While our hearts are constantly chasing after their own selfish desires, our minds are retaining all that we come across while on the chase. This is why we have to discipline ourselves, like you were saying, and ensure that the only thing we are seeking is the Lord.
ReplyDeleteWe do live in a world that seeks to derail us and steal us from his presence the constant interruptions make It so hard to live the life we are called to. I had an opportunity in the summer of 2018 to spend close to 70% of my day in the presence of God reading his worship and worshiping him. I am so incredibly blessed or this period and if I were given the opportunity to do it again I absolutely would. It is amazing when we tithe our time how much God blesses us through that.
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