Tag : distractions
Tag : distractions
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 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!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42, NIV)
This past week has been extremely stressful for me. As I reflect on the things that are stressing me, I realize that I am distracted and spending less time with the Lord. Are you busy and allowing the noise and distractions of the world to cause your soul unrest? In a world of “busyness,” seek the Lord and His righteousness always and He will give you rest.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
This weekend, at Gateway Church, my Pastor, Robert Morris, continued his series “Divinely Human” with the story of Mary and Martha. As I sat there and listened, I related to Martha. Martha was “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He had to say. Jesus shares His “Divine Nature” with anyone who chooses to sit at His feet. Life can get very busy with our day-to-day responsibilities, but we must choose to spend time daily with our Teacher and Friend. As you spend time with Jesus, He changes you into His likeness. The change is gradual, little-by-little you become divinely human, reflecting His Light in this dark and busy world.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Freedom from legalism, guilt, shame, condemnation, and self-rejection. True freedom from the power of sin; selfishness, manipulation, and control. Freedom from the fear of death and what others think about us. Freedom from comparing ourselves to others knowing with confidence that Christ dwells in us. Like Mary, we can rest at His feet with peace, knowing that we are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. Everlasting glory which can only come from the Lord, Who is Spirit.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)\
Categories: Blog
I’ve been reading this book for school called Deep Work by Cal Newport. It’s all about how we need to eliminate distractions and to minimize what he calls “shallow” work in order to accomplish large tasks that require regular periods of uninterrupted time. Maybe you want to write a book but you can’t seem to get it done. Perhaps there’s an invention you’d like to pitch but you haven’t been able to put together a proposal. It could be as simple as finding the time to deep–clean your house.
What do you want to accomplish that requires deep work?
I haven’t written a book since 2020, the year I went back to school to study for a Doctor of Ministry, and I have a book that I really want to complete but I no longer seem to have windows of time to chip away at it. However, as Deep Work suggests: What if I quit checking my email (shallow work) so often during the day? What if I took a Sabbatical from social media (shallow work) until I get the book finished? What if I scheduled a couple of hours each day to write? I have a new resolve to go deep rather than shallow so I can complete this book project.
In the same way, God wants to accomplish some deep work in us, but distractions pull us away from time with Him as well. What do you mornings look like? Even if you get into the Bible, do phone notifications lure you away from what you are reading? Better yet, does your mind wander away from what you are trying to comprehend? I’m guilty. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (NIV). But we need undistracted time to listen.
It’s time to move out of the shallow end. Will you join me in getting some deep work accomplished in both our secular and spiritual lives? I am ready to dive into the deep. What about you?
“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
Categories: Blog