1 More Day... to Train
Years ago I heard Beth Moore say that there was nothing more dangerous than friendly captivity.
As we prepare for this Lent season, I realize I've become a captive needing to break free.
I've always been intrigued by Lent - 40 days of sacrificing. We live in a world where we don't ever deny ourselves of things. We can have what we want when we want it with a click of a button. Want a new outfit? Go buy it. Don't have the money? Charge it. Want something to eat? Order on line or run through the drive through.
Very rarely do we purposely deny ourselves of something simply for the sake of exercising self control. And if we never practice self control, we will never build that muscle. That's what Lent does. Sacrifice something for 40 days - something that will be difficult.
It's a time to choose between what we want now for what we want most.
Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol, too many activities or other irrelevant stuff. We run away from life and from God. Lent is a great time to “repent” -- to return to God and re-focus our lives to be more in line with Jesus.
Lent is 40 days (about a tenth of the year). It's a time of our time.
This year I'm giving up social media for 40 days. It's not that social media is bad - it has just consumed me. It's friendliness lured me into a trap. Let me be very transparent, my friend:
I use social media lot of work but then it leads to hours of wasted time. It has become by default mode. When I'm standing in the grocery line, waiting at the doctor's office, riding in the car (as a passenger), or stopped at a red light, and even for a few quiet moments in the restroom. It is the first thing I check when I wake up and the last thing I read when I go to bed. I miss out on meaningful conversations, God appointments and time I will never get back because I'm scrolling through useless information.
But how can I give it up now? I won't know what people are doing on Spring Break. I will miss birthdays and special events. I won't know what some friends had for dinner and who's in a relationship with whom... Yes I have a problem.
We were created for more. Much more. We were created not to be "liked" but to bring glory and honor to God. We were created not to collect followers but to follow Christ.
I don't want the enemy to keep me so distracted that I miss all God has for me.
It's going to take real bone-deep resolve for me - something I will have to practice daily, no - hourly. But here is what I know: godliness is never accidental. It's a daily resolve.
Maybe you like me have allowed your untreated weaknesses to engrave an invitation to the enemy. Maybe you, like me, are in friendly captivity.
Hebrews 12:1b-2a "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangled. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith".
Daniel 1:8 "But Daniel resolved not to define himself with the royal food and wine..."
2 Timothy 4:7-8 "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
We will live lives of integrity on purpose or we will not do it at all.
So won't you join me?
1. Sacrifice - 40 days of giving up something that's become somewhat of an idol for you. It needs to be tough.
2. Replace it with something else that honors God. For me, I'm starting a new Bible study.
3. Pray - make prayer your new default mode. Instead of picking up the phone, may I talk to the Father.
40 days... March 1 - April 13
40 days to train ourselves to be godly.
40 days of intentional living
One small thing that will propel us into being who God created us to be.