It’s September…apparently. I’m not sure how that happened, but it’s here. Between how quickly we moved through summer and the fact that it’s still 100 degrees outside, it’s hard to believe that it’s fall. With the fall season comes a new school year and everything that comes with it: school supplies, new clothes, new teachers, new students, new schools (for some), new routines, new expectations, new seasons of life, new feelings, new emotions, new decisions to make. It can get overwhelming.
I don’t think I’m alone in this. We live a life full of distractions. And unfortunately, sometimes we need a distraction from the distractions. Too much activity in the office can sometimes be a distraction from what I’m trying to accomplish. So when that happens, I have to grab my headphones to listen to some music that will distract me from the distractions in the office. But even then, sometimes the music itself becomes a distraction. This cycle can also get overwhelming.
With the increased speed of life and our growing need for instant gratification, we lose sight of what’s most important. As difficult as it can be, we have to unplug and return to simple, foundational things, because anything in life can become a distraction from the Lord. That means saying no to the things you can say no to. Putting down your cellphone more often. Turning off the tv earlier in the evening (or don’t even turn it on). Deciding not to make that trip to Amarillo because it isn’t really necessary. If we desire to grow in the Lord, we have to sacrifice these distractions and make an intentional effort to spend time with Him.
Through Isaiah God says, Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live…Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:2-3, 6)
Do you notice the posture He’s calling us to? Listen diligently...Incline your ear…Seek the Lord. These are all active, intentional postures. We must work to make Him the priority. It’s often said that we should “make time for Jesus”. I would argue that we should “make time for everything else”. We should work our schedules around our private devotion time, our small group time, and our Sunday morning gatherings. It might take a drastic shift in some of our lives, but it is crucial to our sanctification. Jesus himself drew away to desolate places to pray and spend time with the Father. We must do the same. Our lives speed by when we are consumed by the distractions. Pray that the Lord would stir in your heart a desire for Him and a desire for time with Him.
-Kendall Harris
I don’t think I’m alone in this. We live a life full of distractions. And unfortunately, sometimes we need a distraction from the distractions. Too much activity in the office can sometimes be a distraction from what I’m trying to accomplish. So when that happens, I have to grab my headphones to listen to some music that will distract me from the distractions in the office. But even then, sometimes the music itself becomes a distraction. This cycle can also get overwhelming.
With the increased speed of life and our growing need for instant gratification, we lose sight of what’s most important. As difficult as it can be, we have to unplug and return to simple, foundational things, because anything in life can become a distraction from the Lord. That means saying no to the things you can say no to. Putting down your cellphone more often. Turning off the tv earlier in the evening (or don’t even turn it on). Deciding not to make that trip to Amarillo because it isn’t really necessary. If we desire to grow in the Lord, we have to sacrifice these distractions and make an intentional effort to spend time with Him.
Through Isaiah God says, Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live…Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:2-3, 6)
Do you notice the posture He’s calling us to? Listen diligently...Incline your ear…Seek the Lord. These are all active, intentional postures. We must work to make Him the priority. It’s often said that we should “make time for Jesus”. I would argue that we should “make time for everything else”. We should work our schedules around our private devotion time, our small group time, and our Sunday morning gatherings. It might take a drastic shift in some of our lives, but it is crucial to our sanctification. Jesus himself drew away to desolate places to pray and spend time with the Father. We must do the same. Our lives speed by when we are consumed by the distractions. Pray that the Lord would stir in your heart a desire for Him and a desire for time with Him.
-Kendall Harris
Recent
Archive
2026
January
September
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags