Distractions & Passions

Music from the Heart: Amazed by The Desperation Band

Lately I feel like my head is going in more directions than it was ever intended to. The challenge is to keep my heart from doing the same.

There is a ceasless flow of things, people and situations that compete for my time, attention, affection, and allegiance. This is the world we live in.

It takes an intentional, focused effort to peel away from the stuff of life to get alone with my own thoughts, much less spend any kind of quality time with the One who loves me most.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? But what if any part of your heart is chasing after anything but Him, or if any part of your mind is consumed with your own plans, agendas, ideas, or endeavors? How easy does it sound now?

The comfort I find rests in the fact that He knows me intimately. He knows every thought before I think it. He knows every word before I speak it. He sees all my moments, past, present and future, while I see only this one. He loves me in spite of me, and the mind-boggling thing is that He doesn't just love me, He's crazy about me ... and you.

As we go about our days, making plans and doing things, building and ending relationships, gathering stuff, and just living our lives, the entire time, the God of the universe is singing over us. The King of Glory is chasing after our hearts, pursuing our passion with an intense fervor. He is peeking through the lattice, looking on His beloved Bride, just waiting for the moment when His Father says, "She's ready. Go get her and bring her home."

And insane as it sounds, even with this knowledge, it still takes a concentrated, intentional effort for us to pull away and just sit with Him for a little while. The pull of earthly distractions is strong. But our love for Him must be stronger. If it isn't, we are lost.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

 You know when I sit and when I rise;
       You perceive my thoughts from afar.

 You discern my going out and my lying down;
       You are familiar with all my ways.

  Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.

 You hem me in—behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 

Psalm 139:1-6