Jesus answered by saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment.”- Matthew 22:37-38
Whenever I would read this passage of scripture I would always think to myself, “Man Ashley, God wants you to love Him with ALL of you. Not just some of you…but EVERY BIT of who you are.” It’s a lot easier said than done. It seems like every waking minute there is always something or someone distracting me.
Distractions are literally everywhere.Today’s world is filled and consumed by distractions. It’s almost as if the moment you decide to put your focus on God, you have about 30 other things trying to pull you away from Him, such as temptations of this world, earthly relationships, selfish desires and worldly passions.
So what do we do when we’re in a world full of distractions and trying to stay focused on God? Whenever I encounter an issue, I always go back to the place that I know has the ultimate solution, God’s Word. Matthew 22 tells us “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind.” What does that mean?
That means that God wants EVERY part of us to love Him. He wants our love for Him to guide everything we do and think. He wants everything.
From our thoughts, our emotions, our intellect, our passions, our dreams, our goals, and even our distractions. YES, EVEN OUR DISTRACTIONS!
God wants to be the apple of our eye, the joy of our hearts, and the reason for everything we do.
How amazing would it be if God was not only our focus but our distraction as well?
What if He had every part of our being and our hearts? Every thought, every idea, every dream, everything! What if instead of being distracted by the latest celebrity news we were distracted by the good news of Jesus Christ? What if instead of being distracted by the riches and treasures of this world, we were distracted thinking about the wonderful riches and treasures stored up for us in Heaven? Wow! How amazing it would be to live a life where God was our focus and our distraction!
I used to always pray and ask God to help me to stay focused on Him. But now I have turned my prayer into, “Lord not only be my focus, but Lord please be my distraction as well. I want you to have every part of me.” I love the scripture in Isaiah 26:3,
“Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trust in thee.”
When God has all of us, our hearts, our mind, and our soul, our lives will be filled and lived in such incredible peace. Worldly distractions bring stress, but godly distractions bring rest. What more could we ask for?
So I want to encourage you to not let God just be your focus, but let Him be your distractions as well. God wants all of you not just part of you. Make Him your optimal focus and your optimal distraction. Let Him fill every part of your life, your heart, and your being.
He wants ALL of you! So let Him have all of you! You become fully satisfied when you live a life that seeks to become completely satisfied in Him.
God can never get enough of you and you can never get enough of Him! Be Encouraged!
“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.” -Psalm 17: 8,15
