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Are your eyes forward and looking at Jesus or are you looking around and distracted?

By Michelle Stokley

Sometimes, in this self-focused society, it’s so easy to get distracted. We can get our focus and perspective out of line. We go about our days pouring out into others and trying to do our very best, draining ourselves until we begin to tire and burn out. That little voice creeps in… “But what about me?”

You know that voice… the one that says they don’t appreciate you, they don’t take care of you, they don’t like you, they don’t want you, they disrespect you, they’re using you… THAT voice. It’s the same one that points out what everyone else has and does and is very sure to point out that you’re getting the short end of the stick. It's the voice that keeps you watching them to see what's next and to see what they're saying… “THEY aren’t struggling like YOU are. THEY have so much more!! They have it SO MUCH EASIER!! IT’S NOT FAIR!! You KNOW they're talking about YOU!!” It’s the same voice that demands the outcome you want at all costs and silently curses others when they’re blessed, never giving you anything but grief and woundedness.

 

We live in a self-focused society that constantly bombards us with opportunities to open the door to offense, become wounded, and allow those bitter roots to grow deep into our hearts/souls. Don't do it. Ask yourself where your focus is. Ask GOD where your focus is! Are your eyes forward and looking at Jesus or are you looking around and distracted? Are you doing a heart check every day, allowing God to examine the deepest places you can't even see? Are you waking up in the morning and making that daily decision to die to self and honoring that decision by your actions?

 

Take a minute today and ask yourself if maybe distraction has crept its way in and opened doors you didn't expect. Ask God to reveal any offenses to you. Ask God to examine your blind spots and deal with those. Seek His healing and let Him deal with the bitter roots that have grown from seeds of distraction.

 

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. – Philippians 2:1-4 MSG

 

Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong” – Romans 14:22-23 MSG

 

“Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,' says God. ‘I’ll take care of it.' ” – Romans 12:17-19 MSG

 

So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. – 1 Peter 2:1-3 MSG

 

Michelle Stokley is the founder of Jeremiah2911Ministries. I am a Daughter of the King, a worship leader, a prophetic writer, an intercessor, a media coordinator, a mother, and a wife. I deeply love Jesus and want others to know Him. I have a love and a vision for social media ministry. I enjoy helping others reach their goals and realize the dreams God has placed within them. I seek to encourage those who need encouraging and seek to offer hope and direction to those who may have lost sight of hope in their lives. I also have a vision for uniting prophetic women together so that they can learn from each other, pray for one another, teach one another, glean from one another, and grow together as strong women and leaders in Christ.

 

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