Empty Room: How to Hear From GodIhe Atụ

DAY TWO - STAY CLOSE

The memory of my first time swimming in the ocean is so clear to me. I was wide-eyed, filled with awe and wonder at that moment. As I was caught up in that ocean experience, every trouble I had began to fade away as joy took over. Then, in the blink of an eye, I found myself farther away from shore than I had wanted to be. The waves got bigger, the water deeper, and the beach further in sight. Just as quickly, fear rushed through my body. I wondered how I had gotten so far, how I could get back, and what might be in the water around me. It was slightly paralyzing, but I just needed to get myself moving…back toward the beach.

I think that in a lot of ways all of us have felt this very way about our spiritual walks at some point in our lives. Maybe that is where you are today. The process of drifting doesn’t just happen overnight. Slowly we find ourselves farther away from the Lord than we had imagined. It could be the result of taking our eyes off the goal. It could be from subtly adding something unhealthy into our routine, or it even happens when we delete something healthy. The result? We find ourselves far away from where we had wanted to be.

So, how do you stay close to the shore? You focus on it! What you put your attention to, your actions will naturally follow.

For those of you who are followers of Jesus, I think that early on in our walk with God, we tend to stay near the shore. But as we know, the enemy loves to steal, kill, and destroy. He is working double time to try and move our affections elsewhere, trying to steal our attention to look to the waves and not towards the SOLID GROUND.

What are ways that we can stay close and stay near to God? Here are three practical ways that I believe will spur you on to draw near to Christ in your journey as a believer.

1. READ THE WORD OF GOD. The word of God is LIVING, ACTIVE, and SHARPER than any double-edged sword. When we choose to open up the word of God, then we find what true life, true love, and the real truth are.
2. EMPTY DISTRACTIONS. There are so many good things in this world but if something is not propelling you forward to Jesus, then you might have to re-examine what and why it is even in your life.
3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO STAY CLOSE TO GOD. Community is so important, especially a Jesus-loving community. Ask God to bring the right people into your life who can push you toward Him in the valley moments and celebrate Him in the mountaintop moments.

My challenge for you today is to write a list of any distractions that might be getting in the way of your relationship with God. Write these distractions on a piece of paper and invite God to help you eliminate them; wait patiently, and trust Him. You will find space to breathe again.

“Dear God, thank You for all of the ways that You are eager to connect with me. Please help me to eliminate distractions in my life so that I can freely run to You. Help me to stay close to You through the highs and lows of life. In Jesus' name, Amen.”