My Priority
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
I had a new experience during my devotions this morning. Usually, I open my Bible and get my journal ready, then move into a time of praise for Who the Lord is, and prayer for all my loved ones and the situations on my mind.
Today, though, felt different. I felt sleepy. Unmotivated. Confused. Unfocused, and very distracted. After several minutes, I almost gave up. I almost said to myself, “Oh well, tomorrow will be different.” I almost excused the distractions by saying, “The coffee hasn’t kicked in/I haven’t had my shower yet/I’m not fully awake. God knows I love Him. His grace covers this. It won’t hurt, just this one time….”
Suddenly, a vivid thought came to me (I know it was the Lord speaking to me): This is the most important thing I will do today. I was about to let go of the most important thing, and do only the lesser things! I was making excuses for not doing the one thing that had the potential to change my day, to change me, and to change my life.
Then these words came: PRESS IN. I knew what that meant. I’ve been down this road before. It meant, “Get a move on. Push stuff out of the way. Don’t let anything stop you. Move forward as if there are no roadblocks, no stop signs, no detours. There is only a destination. Get there!”
Harsh? Not a bit. To me, these are loving words. Grace words. Encouraging words. This means that my heavenly Father is calling me to do business with Him. He has something to say. He’s got a plan, and I’m to be a part of it!
Mentally, I pictured myself pushing through a crowd of tiny people, all clamoring, grabbing at me, yelling distractions, getting in my way. I pressed forward, inch by inch; a throne was ahead. Suddenly, the way opened up. All the people were now subdued, quietly walking alongside me, all of us headed together for the throne.
I knew in an instant what this picture was: I was bringing my thoughts into submission to Jesus Christ. It wasn’t me “corralling” my thoughts, as if I was fencing them in—this was me moving forward in spite of them, not paying them any attention, having a single focus on reaching the throne of God so we could have our meeting. And so we did.
Do you have an experience to share about bringing your thoughts into submission to Jesus Christ? We’d love to post your comments.
Dear Lord, forgive me when I make excuses for stopping short of meeting with You each day. Show me the way, and help me to make time with You a priority over all lesser things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Corraling my barrage of nagging, weird, persistent thoughts is like trying to herd cats. Ah, but push through them, that I can do. Giving the Beloved priority I will be more stubborn than these distractions and difficulties.
My shortcomings seem to have a P.A. system in my head at times, but by God’s grace I am reminded to surrender them to Him. They need not, in fact OUGHT not, have free rein in my head. How thankful I am for His patience with me in this area.
My current circumstances have left me undone. Thank you Lord for your faithful patience. You are my true north, I am yours it will just take time for me to get there.