Check Yourself - Part 1

June 8th, 2023

The Drift is Real
Check Yourself - Part 1 (Guard Your Heart)
by Curtis Thomas

It isn't a new realization that the spiritual care of our hearts often takes a backseat in our lives. We feel the internal conflict daily, pulled by technology and entertainment, worldly pursuits, relationships and the obligations that come with those relationships, cultural obstacles, and much more.

We have a curiosity about God and the reason for our existence. Yet, the hunger for understanding and growing in that curiosity is overshadowed by the ordinary, everyday worries accompanying life. Unless there is an intentional effort on our part and a discipline of pursuit, we don't naturally drift toward God.

And I may be the greatest offender.

I deeply desire a growing relationship with God. And for over 22 years, my love for Jesus has grown immensely. However, my most significant spiritual plight in those 22 years has been the "shiny objects" that the world around me offers to keep me distracted:

...New movies and shows? Yes, please. Every day for hours at a time.

...Technology and social media? Yes, please. Endless scrolling of TikTok till way too late in the night.

...Materialism and consumerism? Yes, please. There is always something new I want to play with.

...Books and podcasts? Yes, please. Anything to take my mind off of my issues for a while.

...Busy and overcommitted schedules? Yes, please. If I say "No," to somebody, what does that say about me as a person?

This isn't to say that we need to bunker down and remove all forms of entertainment and pleasure from our lives so that we can solely read scripture and pray 24 hours a day. No.

But, if we don't understand the danger that is before us, if we fail to guard our hearts in a world of distractions, we miss out on one of God's greatest blessings!

Jesus explains it this way in John 10:7-10:
Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance."

The life Jesus offers to us goes far beyond attending church on Sunday, not cussing as much, and trying to be kind to the people at Taco Bell (who are taking forever to get your order!!). It extends pasts consuming a Christian book or podcast regularly. It's more than the daily sharing of spiritual memes, including scriptures, on Instagram.

The life that Jesus offers is life experienced today through the only One who sustains life ultimately. Jesus didn't come to suck the fun out of everything. Instead, Jesus gives meaning and purpose to the experiences we have every day.

But, even though this life is available to you and me, it doesn't mean we drift toward it easily. Like any relationship we have, it takes work from both sides to nurture it.

That means spending time with and talking with the other person. This means sharing experiences with the other person, trusting the other person, and intentionally leaning into the relationship. Because if we don't do this, we naturally drift away from that relationship.

So, the life that Jesus offers is very accessible to you and me. It's there to take. Are we going to take it? Will we lean in and enjoy life now, not just after death? If so, it will take intentionality on our part.

It will take determination to know God through the reading of the Bible. It will require removing distractions to spend time in prayer. It will take showing up to church and biblical community when we feel like unplugging in front of the TV. It will take working on the words we say and modifying our actions.

Lean in! Because leaning into the life that Jesus offers doesn't restrict us but frees us. That life is abundant. It is fulfilling. And it is everything our hearts need to survive this world of distractions.

How do you lean in? Here are some things I try to implement weekly:

Intentional time to read and reflect on God's word. Sometimes, it is hard to read the Bible and understand it. So I utilize apps and resources to help walk through it (The Bible App, Dwell App, Blue Letter Bible App).
Evaluate the distractions in my life and seek to remove them - one at a time. Many times, I ask the people around me to hold me accountable for this as well ("Hey, you've been spending a lot of time on TikTok lately.")
Engage in biblical community. Whether that is the church, a life group, a class, or mentoring, I surround myself with others striving to experience God's fullness and gain from their influence.
Stay committed. Because of sin, we will continue to fight for spiritual health. It's a challenging thing, but it's worth it. God is worth it. And a relationship with God is worth it.

This post was inspired by the following message.