Hey friends, how are you today? How was your week? Well, fall has certainly entered the โchat roomโ in our neck of the woods (Iโve got kids; it is inevitable that I will use a bit of their language lingo, although if they hear me, a frown will appear on their faces). The mornings and evenings are chilly and throughout the day, the temperature hardly gets out of the 60(s)ยฐ.ย ย Can you believe we are three months away from Christmas? I meanโฆ really? September has two days left then October will make its way.ย ย How have you lived the past year? Has it been filled with distractions like mine has been? Some distractions, I admit were intentional, while others came unexpectedly.ย ย

Two weeks ago, we began our Sunday School classes after more than a year and a half of shut down, due to you know what. The objective of our ladiesโ study is to simplify our lives with the purpose of becoming wholly devoted to Jesus Christ. Initially when I first saw the title of the study book, which is Becoming a woman of Simplicity, by Cynthia Heald, I was a bit hesitant and wary. โLord will this be one of those capsule wardrobe advocates?โ, I wondered, โbecause Iโm not getting rid of my clothesโ. Maybe I should also tell you that I was chosen to teach this class! Oh, the ironyโฆ

Anyway, the author of this study had determined that as ladies and Iโm so sure, (based on my husband) men too, we have the tendency to โdoโ too much, to โbeโ too much, to โgoโ too much. We have the tendency to allow too much and too many into our lives which causes us to become distracted from our primary goal, as Christians, which is to love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might.

We have allowed many distractions, dear friends, and to successfully serve the Lord well, these distractions must be placed appropriately or be removed altogether, if possible. As ladies, we take pride in being busy, busy with the kids or grandkids, busy with aging parents, busy with chores, busy with work, busy with people, busy with events, even busy about the Lordโs work. Most of our busy comes as a result of the โgoodโ we want to attain, which in itself is not a bad thing. But anything that distracts us from spending quality time with the Lord is bad for our spiritual health. Too often, I would dare to say, we either spend time with the Lord out of duty or not at all. That is evident in the performance of the very duties that keep us busy.

Too many times, throughout the day, we are frustrated, overwhelmed, angry, depressed, bitter over matters that creep into our lives. Perhaps itโs that someone that behaved unexpectedly, or that event that did not go as planned, or that duty that took much longer to be completed, or that help that never showed. How we handle these issues and how soon we get over these emotions, ultimately tell the story of our spiritual health.

Our enemy delights in the things that distract us from becoming wholly devoted to Jesus Christ. When I was younger (well much younger) I used to think that becoming wholly devoted to Christ came at the exclusion of everything else, including husband and kids, home, and work. But that is inaccurate thinking. Devotion to Jesus Christ gives everything else in my life itโs rightful place. The Lord brings balance to my life that is literally unattainable without Him.

I will love others and serve them humbly when I am devoted to Christ. I will perform my duties with diligence and integrity when I am wholly devoted to Christ. I will admonish and show compassion and pity to others with discernment and wisdom. I will be slow to speak and swift to listen (James 1:19) and I will count it all joy even in the face of tragedy. Everyone and everything will be given the care and attention they deserve when I am wholly devoted to Christ.

This past year has been rather wearying and at times, my soul has been despondent because of the unexpected trials but that is primarily because Iโve placed my eyes on my circumstances instead of Jesus Christ. My soul longs for my Lord and is only truly satisfied when I am less distracted and fully devoted to Him.

Letโs journey together along this path of becoming wholly devoted to Christ. How have you lived this past year?

Check me out on Instagram. Letโs continue the conversation over on Instagram. Follow my Instagram and I will follow back, just let me know in the comment section. I would love to meet you ๐

35 responses to “DISTRACTIONS, DISTRACTIONS, DISTRACTIONS”
I have never looked for Christian blogs before. I really like your site and especially your title! I enjoyed what you wrote about distractions. I get distracted easily. Shiny object syndrome. I tend to overdo. I want to be involved but sometimes I forget to talk to God first. When I do not have that conversation with God I get tired and exhausted.
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Thank you so very much, Becky ๐๐I do like shiny things too and ,Ike you, I allow myself to be distracted by them ๐๐but we serve a great and faithful God
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You have to ask? ๐ค
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๐๐๐oh this past year has certainly been eventful
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You had me laughing at the beginning of this post!! ๐โค๏ธ But then introducing the book-topicโฆwow!! What an important lesson!! Thatโll be a book on my shopping list and in my future study plans!
Btw, our weather has still been summer-like in Nebraska!! 80s, so crazy!!โฆI love it but it also doesnโt seem like fall, which is my favorite season so itโs bittersweet!
Take care Brenda!!โค๏ธ
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Later this week, we will be back in the 80ยฐs and I certainly appreciate it ๐ fall over here does not last long enough, before we know it, winter โ๏ธ will be here
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Itโll be like that here too, although we probably donโt get as much snow as you, but the cold temps make it miserable enough to me!!๐ ๐ฅถ
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๐ฅถ๐ฅถIโm still adapting to the snow and these tempts even after 20 years
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Amen!!
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Amen! “My soul longs for my Lord and is only truly satisfied when I am less distracted and fully devoted to Him.”
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Thatโs the best way to live, true life begins when we live for the Lord
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It’s been years since I did a Cynthia Heald Bible study. I remember that in the videos she had such a gentle way of teaching. I miss in-person Bible study meetings. So many things I took for granted before Covid.
Enjoy your class!
Blessings
Lynn
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Thank you, my friend. I love this study although Iโve never seen her videos, her study is fabulous
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Cool. Few months away before Christmas!!
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That it is, my friend. God bless you
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You too
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It is a daily thing to focus on Jesus and not get distracted. Even when we get distracted, he is always there to reel us back in.
A good snowstorm helps us to focus ๐
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๐๐too soon it will be here, yes, we Rae thankful for a faithful God
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Loved this post wise and amusing.
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Praise the Lord, to our wonderful Gid be all the glory
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I so agree with what you say here.
Devotion to Jesus Christ gives everything else in my life itโs rightful place. The Lord brings balance to my life that is literally unattainable without Him.
An excellent reminder ๐บ๐
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Our Lord is faithful, we can depend on His precious grace and mercy when we fall short
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Oh, I love this post! Such good stuff! “Devotion to Jesus Christ gives everything else in my life itโs rightful place. The Lord brings balance to my life that is literally unattainable without Him,” and the passages following are pure gold. Thank you.
We are hiding out in our a/c as temps are hitting the 90’s for several days. Tomorrow down to 80’s, though. Maybe we’ll get some lovely fall temps, crisp days, and brilliant leaves.
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90ยฐ!! Please send me some heat, my toes are freezing ๐ฅถ we are thankful we serve a forgiving God
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Praying our temps waft over to you ๐๐๐
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๐๐
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I am good! Today is my birthday and God has blessed me with my favorite weather. A thunderstorm! Distractions is a tricky strategy of the enemy. I know for me when I don’t get my intimate time with God my day is off. I am learning that it is the most important time of my day.
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Happy birthday to you ๐happy birthday to you ๐ฐpraying that have the best day today, may the Lord richly bless you
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Thank you!
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Christmas THREE months away!? So what are the Christmas decorations doing going up before even Halloween ones started last week!? ๐ I guess Solomon had it right,
“What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.” ESV
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I love Christmas ๐ but I do wish that they would make it more special by bringing it closer to December ๐ ๐ yep, life has been ordained
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Actually, our first exposure to summer โChristmasโ was The Christmas Shoppe up in New Jersey somewhere. Since then weโve encountered a few โyear-roundโ Christmas stores. ๐
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Wow ๐ฏ is it because they absolutely love this season, or can it be a money making venture? I wonder ๐ญ
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I agree wholeheartedly — that our whole heart is given to God, who remains sovereign over all our stuff.
P.S. My boys freeze when I use any current lingo too. ๐ It’s just so fun getting a reaction. (The younger one adds head shaking and mumbling: “Nope. Unh unh. No …”)
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๐๐๐kids!! We just have to love them, but they do add to our lives, ๐ how great is our Lord
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