Even today when I bought a new devotion book in order to try to read a devotion before getting online, I couldn't do it. I kept thinking well if I just check my email, or read a few blogs then I'll get my fix and be able to really concentrate on what God is saying to me in my devotion. Plus, I was hungry and with cereal in my mouth I can't completely focus on God. In fact it is much easier for me to focus on blogs than Bibles when I am eating. Eventually I finished my cereal and picked up my little devotional book only to be greeted with this....
"Fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." Romans 12:2
Uhhh...Do you ever get the feeling He is watching you and catching you doing something wrong? This is one of those moments.
Max Lucado goes on to explain that my problem is not priorities or time management but one of sin. Sin is a harsh word. I don't like to really use it especially for things like blogging instead of Bibling. I mean sin is for big things right? Things like lying, cheating, stealing, hurting others? Max challenges this way of thinking saying that sin is any rebellion against the Father and as such it cuts us off from Him. Am I rebelling when I don't put time with His Word first? I don't really want to think that I am.
But, if I really reflect on my internal dialogue this morning, I sound a bit like my 4 year old who can come up with a number of excuses as to why she can't pick up her room--she is hungry, too tired, can't concentrate because of her sister, etc. When I look at her making those excuses I know she is just trying to find an acceptable excuse to not do what she is told. So I ask myself once again, am I just trying to find acceptable excuses so that I don't have to do what I know I am suppose to be doing? Am I rebelling? Grudgingly I admit to myself that yes I am.
Mr. Max says that this is a matter of the heart and that for it to be resolved, I need to repent for in our world we like to reorganize, resystemize, rework and reprioritize but it is only God who can actually re-create. It is only God who can truly change from the inside out. But in order for him to do his work, I must be obedient and be compliant. I must put Him first.
"The work of the Holy Ghost first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness."
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
13 comments:
I woke up this morning remembering reading your post yesterday on priorities. Instead of heading straight for my computer, I grabbed my Bible and a Kay Arthur study I'm starting online Thursday. I sat down to read and when I finished, I was surprised at how quickly I did it (I have 45 minutes before I need to get my daughter up!).
Hang in there! You'll get to it, and thanks so much for sharing with us. You are definitely not the only one who is a "wee bit of a sinner."
Your only a "wee bit of a sinner?" I am a BIG bit of a sinner =)
Hang in there girl.
Oh, this post was straight from God for me today! I too am extremely guilty of spending way more time on the computer than in the Word. Thanks for the reminder!
Totally there with you! Been dealing with an enormous conviction over attitude! Enjoyed what you had to say....I have that Max-Grace book! Wonderful devotions. He really puts things in the right perspective....even I can understand!
Have a blessed day!
Great post. I too have been convicted of spending too much on my computer instead of time with Him. I just got this new laptop for my birthday and now that I can get on the internet anywhere in my house it's hard to stay away! Thanks for reminding me of what I should be doing!
Funny I should should be reading this tonight, as I have been struggling with it all day. I listened to a wonderful sermon on putting God first in everything and truthfully, that can seem pretty hard when the toddler rises ten minutes after me, (5:50 to be exact!)
Nontheless, He is the most important and when I think about how many minutes I steal away to run and check my email, or a blog...how pleased would God be if I were doing that for him? I think that was an epiphany!
Anyway, nice to meet you! Sorry for my long-windedness!
Blessings,
Hallie
Mycrazylife
;) That's my girl!
He sees----even the sacrifice of waiting to get on the computer while you put Him first.
And now you have blessed others in the process.
Wow. This really spoke to me. The first thing I do when I wake up is read my email, when I know I should pray or read my bible. Thank you for saying what I needed to both say and hear.
Hi there!! I just wanted to take a minute to come by and say thanks for participating in my Mary Kay blog give away. Since you showed interest in Mary Kay products by entering the contest, I would also like to ask, do you already have a consultant who serves you??? If not, I would be honored to have that privilege! I will be hosting an MK Web party (at my Mary Kay Website - www.marykay.com/susannereeder) sometime in the next couple of weeks, and I will be posting the invitation on my blog very soon. This will be a "Mystery Hostess" party full of wonderful prizes, so be on the lookout for the all the details including the date and time. Thanks again for your interest. Have a POSITIVELY PINK day!!!
Love and Prayers,
Susanne Reeder
BTW: I LOVE your blog!! I am subscribing so I will be visiting regularly!!
Great post! I found your blog through another scrapbook blog and am SO glad I did....I now have it embedded on my igoogle homepage so I can check in regularly.
Although my 'kids' are 22 and 25 I can identify with a lot of what you say. I keep having dreams of my kids as youngsters - toddlers....I think because I am still working through the 'empty nest' cycle we are going through. My kids are both living close by and I am very blessed and lucky by that. I say all that to say this - and you probably hear it all the time but - just enjoy them now....it goes so fast! I love the relationship I have with them now - they are great friends.
OK, I'll reign it in with....I too struggle with my time spent on the computer. I have a laptop as well so getting online is very accessible. I have copied your verses off as they really spoke to me - Thank you!
Thank you so very much for this post.
I can really see me in it. :)
Thanks for that! I too have been convicted of the same thing. I am turning my computer off now and going to read my bible, because I am having that same argument in my head!!
Ouch! Thank you for this reminder. I've been convicted about my "blogging addiction" everywhere I turn this week and this is the first one to call it what it is - sin. Thank you.
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