Being Guided

What the body of Christ needs is to be constantly guided.  We need to be in tune with the Spirit of God, and we need to follow His promptings step by step.  There are so many ways to be taken out of our communion with Him, though.  And some seem innocent enough.  Below are two of the more subtle things that distract us from God's perfect will:

1)  TIME -- Will you give God your time?  Arbitrary schedules, agendas, and even everyday obligations can take your mind off of God and stifle the Spirit.  Will you give God these things?

Forget about the time...His Presence is here.  Forget about these distractions...instead, be willing to focus on Immanuel, God with us.  Be willing to come to awareness of the manifest presence of God through His son Jesus.


"But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."  But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  Luke 10:40-42

2) OBLIGATIONS -- Related to time; how many things do you commit to that do not matter to God?  How many things that you do will just burn up at the end?  How often do you not consult only yourself before making a decision.  Let's seek God instead.  You'd be surprised--God wants you to do only those things that glorify Him.  There are a lot of good things out there.  But their is only one best thing, and that's to glorify Jesus.  Setting up obligations can leave you already committed by the time God gives you clear instruction.  God will honor your words, and your obligations to others, but the truth is that He may have had a better way that is now pushed back by your own will.  Don't by your obligations stifle God's perfect will for you.

"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."  Ezekiel 22:30

Wait, and then act.  God is not necessarily impressed by your ability to get things done.  Obligations will only fill up your time with events that are not ideal.  Instead, God wants you to join Him in His plans.  So change starts with Him, and effective work starts with Him.  We need to commit first to His work.  What are His plans?  What are His thoughts?  What does He have in store for where you, for your community?  If you surrender your time and your obligations to Him, if you lay them down at His feet, He will let you in on His plans.  This is where effective work starts, and this is where doing the will of God gets exciting.  Yield to Him, and be willing to have Him change you plans.  He may even say "no" to your desires, but you will find the richness of His will so much more fulfilling than striving alone.  

"They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them..."  Acts 16:6-7

Confirmed: I went to the Quickened Word website about two hours after finishing this post, and saw a new Word there that really confirmed the reality of distractions.  This Word addressed things from a different angle, describing the spiritual fallout produced by distractions, but was so timely and synchronistic for me.  We need to focus on Him, and then on doing His will! Here is the article.