Saturday, June 2, 2007

Obsession

Are you obsessed by something?
This was the question that started my morning. I could not sleep this morning so I decided to get up and make a pot of coffee and spend a little time alone with God before anyone got up. Ever so quietly I tried to sneak past Paw Paws room--I swear I think he has a radar and it starts beeping as soon as my feet hit the floor.
Sure nuff----as soon as there was enough in the pot to pour me a little--I turned around and there he was coming into the kitchen. So I poured him a cup and told him I was going to spend a little time with God before I fixed breakfast. I wonder if maybe I should start setting my alarm to get up in the middle of the night----don't think I am ready to try that just yet. :)
So Paw Paw went to get his shower and I went to spend some time with God.
My man Oswald Chambers, always makes me think. He gets my mind moving on the deep things of the Lord. Most times he crushes my toes--but that is O.K, it keeps me moving-- and if you are running no one can step on your toes.

This is what caught my attention.
If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives--not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.
This puts a picture in my mind of a wine bottle. Filled with a product and then seal with an air tight seal, so that nothing gets in to pollute it. If I am filled to the brim and then sealed with my obsession-the presence of my God--then nothing else will be allowed in to pollute my attention. Do I live like this on a daily basis?
No. Do I wish I could be as obsessed with God as I evidently am about such things as my weight, money issues, etc.? Oh yes! So my obsession with other things boils down to unbelief. Ouch! If I really believed In Him----nothing else could pull my minds eye away from Him.
Dear God I believe--help my unbelief.
And then this caught my heart too.
The abiding awareness of the Christian life is to be God himself, not just thoughts about Him. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God.

How many times do I think I am making contact with His presence?
How many times do I read and pray and not wait for his presence to arrive? I'm afraid that this is probably most times. I know, that when I do become aware of His presence I am in no rush to get up and leave.
Inside and out obsessed with Him? Dear God I want to be obsessed by you and with you.
Show me where I could be doing things and thinking things differently, so that I never fail to make contact with your presence.

When was the last time you made real contact with His presence?
I just thought about this. When I worry..... I feel it. It weighs me down. Maybe even depresses me. When I give in to fear.......I feel it. My heart beats a little faster. My attention becomes quite focused on my fear object.
So what does contact with His presence bring? Sometimes sweet peace. At other times I am lost in a sea of quietness. Last Sunday I was over come by His presence and all I could do was cry.

What is HIS presence like for you?



5 comments:

Nise' said...

I read this same devotion yesterday and was touched as well! You must read the same "version" as I do. It was a light blub moment regarding the situation I am about to travel to, all that is needed is to fill myself with Him and the rest will take care of itself!

I can relate about not spending long enough for His presence, cause when I am aware of His presence, I DONT WANT TO LEAVE!

Anonymous said...

Your story of PawPaw getting up with you reminds me of when our kids were little! I'd try to sneak some alone time and they'd come & snuggle with me. It was great, BUT, alone time is rare and I really craved it. I'm craving it again -- ever feel like just sitting near some water and reading your bible and pondering everything?? That's what I feel like doing. Not having to make any meals or mark any schoolwork or even to answer any calls or emails. Just me and the Lord. For hours. I love serving my family and being with them, but I need to refuel too. ((( hugs ))) D

Halfmoon Girl said...

For me, it is like I can breathe deeply again when I am aware of His presence. I can feel CALM.

Anonymous said...

Since the age of 9, The person of God has been my obsession. An ever growing desire to be, if not see, Him to the point of having a form of "out of body" earth shattering experience. Nothing since this event 16 years ago has come close to this one-of-a-kind event. Life since has gradually dragged to almost blace. The closer we draw and nearer to Him the more difficult life becomes because it was the ending of those moments that, in comparison, make the rest of life unsatisfying. So the issues is: Is such a enourmously, powerfully spiritual experience more harm than good? Ive wonder still today.

Sharon Brumfield said...

Funraiser

I would love to continue this conversation with you. I think that many times when God entrusts us with a mind blowing experience it does make life harder.
Once we have gotten a taste of the heavenly nothing else compares. We are ruined in a way.
I have had a few of theses mind blowing experiences. Sometimes it causes me to want to pursue more of those experiences. I never seemed to be able to drum them up.
Then when I finally start just to pursue Him-once again He satisfies me with Himself.
I tried to get back to you on your site but blogger is not giving me the info needed to switch over to you.
If you come back and leave me some info on how to get to you I would love to come visit.