The thing is that activity is not the answer to the difficulties of life, not even spiritual activity. If we are doing more "spiritual" activity in an attempt to mask or hide the fact that we are sick and tired and our faith is threatening to fail, it won't help. Mass doses of religion does not bolster the spiritual immune system or increase our faith like taking Vitamin C to stave off colds. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. And if our reaction to feeling not as blessed as we would like or to times being more difficult than we care for is to act like good little Christians and hope God will give us a treat, that's not good either. Yes, God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Seek Him are the two key words there. He's not all about rewarding those who diligently seek the blessing. Keeping busy distract ourselves from where the frustrations and fear take our minds is just another part of the trap.
These are all symptoms of the same trap. What makes it difficult to discern at times is that none of those things that we do to fall into the trap are bad. In fact some are exactly what we need to be doing. Wait? Then how is doing them falling into a trap? We look at the activity. Is it good or not good to do? God isn't looking at that. God is looking at our hearts. Why are we doing it? Sometimes what we need to be doing is getting quiet. Be still and know that I am God is the scripture that comes to mind. Sometimes we do need to get to work doing what we've already been told to do. If we know that we have been called to pray more, to serve more, to volunteer at a soup kitchen, whatever, then by all means obey. The best way to keep the great fish of life from swallowing us whole is to obey and not run from what we are told to do. To obey is better than sacrifice after all.
But whatever we are doing, God wants us to do it for and in His presence. It's all about the presence of God. The goal is not to distract from what feels bad, or to fix what's wrong or to appease or earn treats. The goal is to increase our time of awareness of God's presence. When our desire is to be in the presence of our Creator, that is something worth doing. That is never a trap. It might not always be easy to achieve. Sometimes we just have to refuse to move until He makes us aware of His presence and gives clear direction about when, where and how to do the moving.
Today, let us not get so caught up in the trap of what we need to do or should be doing that we miss out on the experience of His presence. Let us not get so busy that we can't hear Him speaking to our hearts. We need to be quick to obey, but let us also be quick to stop and wait, to renew our strength in the quiet times with God. In His presence is fullness of joy, which means running around without awareness of His presence...well, that is a lot less joyful.
Sometimes we're not going to be happy. Sometimes we're not going to get our way. Sometimes, we're just a hurting, broken mess. The answer is (as Tamela Mann puts it) to lay at the throne alone and gaze upon His glory, to pour ourselves out to Him as an offering. Sometimes life is grand. We feel good. Everything is working out in a way that makes us smile. It seems like things just couldn't get any better. While those times may seem fewer and farther between than the other, our response should be the same. That's where the life worth living is found, in His presence. It's not in the things we do. Getting caught up in the whats of life and spirituality instead of focusing on the Why of everything is a trap that can keep us from His presence rather than taking us to the King.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
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