We have been studying the “hows” and “whys” of worship this past quarter in Sunday School. I was recently talking with a friend about the importance of worship and how we so often miss the mark. She commented that it’s awfully hard to come in on Sundays to truly worship, if you’ve not put time into your relationship with God during the rest of the week.
This morning I have been reading many posts excited about the Braves and their exciting win last night. Many posts are from life long Braves fans who stand by their team in feast or famine. They aren’t shy about showing their colors and their joy this morning is so contagious and it makes me happy for them. How much sweeter their victory after having “Braved” many the storm with their favorite team.
I have several radio stations I flip back and forth. WLNT is usually on my radio unless I am out of reach. I love getting to occasionally hear my son, and truth be told, I will miss that this year. I listen to the Moody radio station out of Chattanooga, but again I lose service quickly when I am out of range. Then, I have to confess, I love an “oldie” station that frequently plays music from the 80’s. What I am about to tell you is the absolute truth!! One day last week, I lost service, very close to my house of WLNT. I started going through the rest of my stations and all I could access was 88.9 the Moody Bible Station. I thought that was odd so I started scrolling through all the stations. The ONLY one coming through was Moody.
We know that God will shake what can be shaken so that we will see what cannot be Shaken. I also know from experiences in my own journey that He will remove any distraction that becomes between Him and us. I once had someone tell me, “I believe in God, but I don’t see why you have to live religion.” Oh, my friends, that is all we should be living. Living our Religion should be all that matters. All the rest is what we have to do to get by. Yes, recreation and recharging our batteries is important, but why??? So that we can continue our journey and the task of leading others to Christ. We have gotten so turned around in our way of thinking. We are entitled and lazy. What are you allowing to come between you and your Maker this very day?
There are times I actually have thought that one reason God took Sara was because she was between Him and me. I idolized that child. I once had a co-worker tell me, “you can’t tell where one of you ends and the other begins”. I considered that a wonderful idea. But you see, I put her before God and I often even put her before my husband. As we are drawing nearer to the day Sara left us 18 years ago, I am doing a great deal of thinking about all that little girl taught me. I was only 20 years old when she joined our family and we sort of grew up together. I often think she taught me way more that I did her. She knew I had work to do on my relationship with God and often told me she was concerned about where I was. I will say it has grown since she left, but I still have room for improvement.
Last year I felt sure God was trying to refocus us on what was really important by distractions being removed. We had a wonderful gift of time to just be still. Now, it seems we are more frantic than ever and with circumstances such as they are, we are also more frustrated than ever.
Colossians 3:1-4
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
What distraction do you need to remove today to just be in relationship with him, so that your worship will be so pure and joyous? It may not be as drastic as all of your radio stations suddenly going away, except one, but if you are aware, I bet you will have clues that something is getting in the way of your relationship with the heavenly father!
Father, help us to pay attention to the gentle nudge and be aware of any distraction that takes our focus off of YOU!!! Help us to grow in our relationship and draw ever nearer!! One day, your “team” will once again reign supreme over all the earth and we long for the wonderful victory celebration we will have on that day!! Help us to stay loyal in times of celebration and times of sorrow. You are the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIGHT. May nothing turn our eyes from you!! Amen
-Beth
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