Thursday, September 13, 2018

Distractions And Detours

The kingdom of darkness has a mission to distract and detour us from the will of God. He can succeed by simply keeping us busy doing things other than what God has directed us to do. When we get busy with other things we will not live the abundant life God has designed for us.

When we have an overcrowded heart, we lose clear direction and focus for our lives. Our very purpose and destiny seem to become clouded.

When anxiety and heaviness begin to overwhelm us, we must stop what we are doing, purposely cast all our cares on the Lord, and then enter the presence of God. And when we do, we will receive relief and refreshing from the Holy Spirit. When we take only the responsibility the Lord gives us, then we will quickly discover His purpose for our lives—our destiny!

First Peter 5:7 says, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully" (AMP).

Jesus has extended an invitation to cast our cares, anxieties, worries, and all our concerns on Him once and for all. We don't have to "figure out" how to resolve the situations in our lives. We can give all our problems to the Lord and then expect the Holy Spirit to reveal the direction or answer we need.

Peter said the Lord cares for us watchfully! Watchful means to give careful attention to circumstances, and suggests being wide-awake, keenly aware of what might escape others. The Lord is well able to care for us! He never sleeps nor slumbers. When we are sleeping, He is watchfully giving attention to our circumstances. He sees what might escape our natural limited senses.

The Lord is sensitive to the weaknesses in our lives, but in the presence of God, we can put on His strength. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find help in time of need" (NKJV).

Jesus was tempted in every area that we are. The difference is that He never sinned. The key to His success is made clear in Hebrews 4:16. He spent time in prayer receiving grace and help in His time of need. We must come to the realization that strength and grace do not come automatically, but they can be imparted in the presence of the Lord.

God will not apply pressure or coerce us in any way. It was His choice to leave heaven and come into fellowship with us. Now it is our choice to continue in fellowship with Him.

Hebrews Chapter 4

King James Version (KJV)

4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.