Conscious Effort

“I called you so often, but you didn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.” Proverbs 1:24

This thought of not spending time with Jesus freaks me out! Yet so does the thought of spending time with Him out of habit or because I should, rather than because I desire to, need to, want to, have to.

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone yet you weren't really "in" the conversation. Meaning they were talking and you acted like you were listening but your mind was somewhere else. Then when they stop and look at you waiting for a response, you don't know what to say because you have no clue what they just said.

Have you ever done that? 

How often do we do that with the Lord? We get in the Word, yet our minds are elsewhere. Or we attend church and the whole time we are thinking about other things rather than the message Christ is speaking to us.

This bothers me a great deal. Jesus has said many times that you are to love ME with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

How can I be giving Him all of myself, if I am distracted in my thought life?

This should sadden us more. It should move us to be in prayer more. It should motivate us to store His Word more.

It should cause us to be a lot more conscientious when we are spending time with Him.  Jesus has something to say to us, teach us, and show us. He wants to draw us closer to His holiness every day. He wants to share His heart with us.

Why would we want to miss out on that?

This bothers me that I have missed out on really listening to what my Father has to say and share, because my thoughts are elsewhere.

I can’t draw closer to Him, if I am not listening and engaging in our conversation. And if I don’t listen how can I obey Him and become more like Him.

These two they really do go hand in hand.

“My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. “Proverbs 2:1-2

Conscious effort that is what is required.

Jesus forgive me for not being fully engaged in the time we spend together. You deserve better, and I want better, for the both of us. Amen