December 22 2011

In the Way?
 
Reading: James 4:4b,6-8a, “do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Have you ever had those days when it just seems like everyone is in your way? You may be driving and in a hurry and someone pulls out in front you. Now you’re boxed in going 10 miles an hour under the speed limit, then you have to stop by the store briefly. You turn to go down the aisle and even though you could normally fit a Mac truck down the aisle, there just happens to be people who apparently decided to send out invitations to everyone that they know to meet them right there in that spot in the store and there will be no way to get through in the near future and they really don’t seem to interested in stopping their conversation to let you through. You finally get your things… and go up to the front to check out and it sure seems as if they made a special announcement over the store PA that you could win a million dollars if you check out right now and get in line in front of THAT guy. Sometimes it just seems like everyone is in the way of trying to accomplish what you want to accomplish… whether it’s a project at work, or buying a house, or even serving the Lord. In this passage, though, it says, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” There is no one in your way of getting closer to God… no one. No one can get in your way to Him, if they do, it is only because you chose to put them there. Being “a friend of the world” is a choice to put them in your way of your relationship with Him.

What have you perceived as being in the way of you drawing closer to God?


What can you do to adjust or even remove those things today and focus on your relationship with God?



End of the Day Review
  
Were you able to adjust or remove those things in your life that has been hindering your relationship with God… if so, how did you accomplish that?
 
 
How did those adjustments impact your relationship with God today?