Recently, I've been lazy in my walk with the Lord. I haven't been pursuing Him with my whole heart, soul, and mind. I've been giving Him a part when He requires my all. Since today begins a new month, I thought that it is a perfect time to begin anew. Today is the day to clear out the trash and the little distractions that keep me from seeking the Lord with all my heart. Here is a little excerpt from a book I'm currently reading (currently meaning...been working on reading it for a while..)
"When you are determined to do something, you go after it with zeal. You say "no" to anything and everything that distracts you. You give up some things, and discipline yourself not to do others. You don't think of it this way, but you are going through a type of death. You are "dying" to things that are of lesser importance to you. They have no hold on you. And at the same time you pursue you goal with all your body, mind, soul, and strength. When you are pursuing the thing you love, you can lose all track of time and the whole world can recede into the distance. You are caught up, and totally focused on the thing you love....
Why do we not put the same determination into seeking God, so that we pass through the death of lesser dreams and drives and find the resurrection life in Him that is beyond all death and all earthly powers? Why do we not put the same energy into knowing and doing the things of God?" (taken from "A Place called There by Kingsley Fletcher. page 80)
Zeal and determination is what I need in my walk with the Lord. I haven't been determined enough to press on to know Him more. I've allowed little worldly things to distract me.
Right now, I think it would be a great experience to be a 'monk" for the month of March. Escape the fast pace of the world and hide away on the country side reading and studying the scriptures. It would be so refreshing to get alone with God and not worry about the daily demands placed on me.
Although that sounds great, I know it isn't possible. I have work that needs technology (the lovely hw). I have to go to work. I have to answer my phone. I have to go to the dreaded dentist this month...so not looking forward to that. But even though I can not get away from the world, this month I think I'm going to use some zeal and determination in my life. I'm going to practice some personal discipline in order that I may have some sweeter times of fellowship and may grow closer to Jesus this month. I've been practicing physical discipline lately with running...even when I don't feel like running. Now, I just have to transfer my sense of discipline to my spiritual walk.
Here is how I plan on practicing discipline in the month of March. This month I'm not going to waste my time watching a TV series, a movie, or spend time on facebook. I'm going to take a month fast from these things in order to get my priorities straight and seek God first and foremost. I never really fasted from something for this long...so this should be a big stretch for me. I admit that it will be difficult because there will be times (especially when break comes or when Sean comes home) that I will want to sit back and watch a TV show or movie. But there is no eternal value in this form of entertainment. There will be no reward in heaven for watching tv or sports. So, why should I watch tv? The same with facebook. I use it to keep in touch with people but lately I've been on it less. I've been using twitter more because it isn't such a waste of time. I update my tweet and that's done. Anyway, this month I wont be on facebook. If my facebook status changes it will because I tweeted. I will not log into facebook. I will not use tweetdeck. This will be a challenge for me because I'm considering going to Camden on the 19th of this month. I have a FB invite sitting unanswered in my facebook account. The reason why I haven't yet responded to it is because I don't know my work schedule. I will find out on Friday if I can make the Camden trip. However, either way - I will have to talk with those going by my mouth and not over facebook. I think we have to figure out rides and such - which will be a challenge since I wont be on facebook this month. Another challenge for me will be when Selah concert comes to church. I like to look at other people's pictures of the event- but I guess I'll have to just take my own camera and look at my own pictures. With all that said, I'm setting aside the time I'd spend on facebook or in front of a tv show (i'll still watch the news), in order to draw near to God. Now, just because I'm doing this doesn't make me a better person. I am still a sinner in need of God's grace. However, I am doing this so that I can distant myself from needless distractions and spend more time with God. I need a change. I'm tired of being in a rut. I think its going to be a great month because I will be relying on God's strength to say no to tv and fb. I'm not going to make a big deal of cutting out tv and facebook from my life. I'm going to keep it a secret as much as possible. And who knows... I may like this modern monk lifestyle and continue it in April.
I'm writing all of this so that I will have a written record of my journey..and so that I will have a sense of accountability. Since I'm writing all this, I am more determined to keep my word. I know at times it will be easy to stray..but then I will remember this post. Spiritual discipline is a practice that I think we as Americans have neglected. So I would also take this chance to encourage you to practice a spiritual discipline this month - more time in the word, scripture memorization, more time praying, fasting, giving, serving or whatever the Lord places on your heart.
Philippians 3:7-14
"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
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