March 20, 2006

Distractions

I don't have any new prophecies transcribed for today (sorry!) But I hope to listen to the CD from the worship/intercession service tomorrow before my week gets crazy.

I've been thinking about how Pastor keeps talking about and praying against distractions... I have known that he was praying 'right on' but it has really come home to roost lately how distracted I've really been without even realizing it! Those united prayers he's been leading us in must be beginning to crack that wall, because I have begun to recognize where the distractions lie in my life. I still need more victory in that area so I plan to keep pressing against that wall until full victory comes. Pastor has been mentioning that concept lately. He said last Sunday that if you were trapped in a place and there was a crack in the wall, you wouldn't settle down and not doing something about it- you would press on that place until you eventually broke down that wall. If we do not grow weary, but see this window of opportunity and press in, I believe we're going to see some major breakthroughs in our individual lives and in our church. I am being challenged by the Lord to do just that. I do remember last Sunday night Sister Hazel sharing about pressing through till victory and we had a prophetic/spontaneous song that basically said, "We're gonna push until breakthrough comes". That seems to be a theme lately... Anyway, back to distractions (before I become distracted :^)... In our Beth Moore study we read the parable of the sower and how Jesus told of the different types of response to the seed that was sown. He explained the parable to His disciples in Mark...

Mark 4:14, (Jesus said) "14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

How often is that us? We do hear the word, but then the distractions come- worries (fears, being overwhelmed, anxieties, busyness), the lure of acquiring more (making sure we're comfortable), the pleasures and entertainment of this world draw our gaze away. It shouldn't be this way but too often it us. When I truly do behold Him I wonder how I could ever be fascinated with anything other than the One who created me to be fascinated with Him! But thankfully He is gentle and He understands.

38 "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."


I don't believe that Jesus said this to her with a stern look and a wagging finger, but I bet He probably smiled and put His hand on her shoulder. He knows the difference between when we need a swift rebuke because there is rebellion in our hearts and when we truly want to please Him- but in our striving, have gotten off-focus along the way. Martha loved Jesus. Martha wanted to please Him. But Martha was distracted. She got busy with things that probably needed to be done, but perhaps not at that time nor by her. You know- I wonder if she could have continued to do these necessary things, but not become "distracted" by them. But this time, she missed the best that her Lord had for her. To just "be still and know" Him. In our busy, hectic lives, if we would purpose to steal away alone with the Lover of our souls, in sweet communion and with His word, the ground of our heart would be fertile, broken up, and prepared to worship and to receive the word when we come together in the assembly. Good soil is not as vulnerable to thorns. May the enemy of our souls, the liar, accuser, spoiler, distracter, be exposed for who he is. And may we be prepared, alert and not vulnerable to his cloud of worries or lured away by busyness or the inferior pleasures of this world. But rather may we be ruined and fascinated with the only One who can truly satisfy and Who is worthy of our complete attention. Am I ever thankful for a Pastor who hears from the Lord! "Help us Lord and thank You for leading us in Your truth!" Amen. God bless you all! KHJ

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Now that is awesome and right on the money! KJ