Lay aside every hindrance…

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith…”
Hebrews 12:1-2

In chapter 3 of Abundant Simplicity, Jan Johnson asks us to ponder some very weighty questions. I’ve been praying, pondering, meditating on these words myself.

“Even when we truly desire to live day to day in the companionship of God, we get distracted…This distracted life is now considered not only normal but optimal. We’re supposed to multitask; if we don’t, we’ll get behind…”

I am called to be in this world but not of it. I don’t want to be so distracted that God is not the treasure and focus of my life. I don’t want to be too busy for God. Even busy doing good things.

Making space for Him…asking Him to help me get rid of my distractions…asking Him even to just show me what those distractions are, because sometimes in my humanness, I don’t know what things may be pulling me away from Him. What is hindering me from seeking Jesus? What in my life is distracting me from treasuring Him above all else? I am realizing more and more that for me, letting go of many of these distractions means I am very much going against the grain and flow of our culture. I have to be ok with that. I’m getting there…and asking Him to make me more and more like Him in the process. I don’t want to look like the world, I don’t want to try so hard to fit in, I don’t want to be so up to date with technology that I lose sight of my Savior, I don’t want the things of this world to be more exciting to me than time with my Beloved.

Help us, Lord Jesus. We are desperate for you!