![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Flight-225x300.jpg\" "\\"Flight\\"")
<\/a>I believe there are several reasons for this. I suspect I can blame jet lag for some of it. Return culture shock for some of it. Getting used to some processed American food for some of it. But I believe the main culprit is Satan has been telling me lies and then, I in turn, believe them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
You see, I thought things like, \u201cYou were so busy doing God\u2019s work, take a break.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve missed so much while you were away; take the time to get caught up.\u201d \u201cYou really don\u2019t have anything to do, just relax.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
And I did.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the thing. By listening to these lies, I not only did all these things, but I even cut back on my Bible study time. I cut back on my prayer time. I cut back on my personal time with God and guess what? I began to feel disconnected from God.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But guess who moved? It wasn\u2019t God! It was me!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After a good dose of Bible study with some wonderful ladies, I realized what I had done. I had allowed Satan to pull me in. I cannot believe I was willing to put aside my spiritual well-being and growth for comfort. But I did.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So today begins anew\u2026remember my favorite verse? \u201cBecause of the Lord\u2019s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.\u201d<\/em> (Lamentations 3:22-23 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Oh, how wonderful to know that God\u2019s faithfulness is greater than I could ever imagine. To know that He is willing for me to start over each morning, just as if nothing had happened yesterday. But I know that I have to do my part. My faithfulness to Him must continually grow. I may never be as faithful as my God, but I can certainly try harder each day to be more faithful than the day before.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My personal time with God and the Lord Jesus Christ must come before anything else. Yes, including my sleep if need be.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So what is my plan? James 4:8 (NIV) tells us, \u201cCome near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I must draw near to God (prayer and Bible study). Wash my hands (confess my sin). Purify my heart (become God-centered). These are literal steps I must take to be in God\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Psalm 51:10 (NIV) says, \u201cCreate in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.\u201d<\/em> The next step is to ask God to do His work within me. Allowing God\u2019s Spirit to continue the purifying process and to keep me on the correct path will take me then, to the next step.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Being with God. In Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV), David shares these words. \u201cHe who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, \u2018He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
When I dwell in God\u2019s presence, I find rest. I find protection. I find strength. And then I am ready to begin a new day being closer to God.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perhaps you are feeling distant from God today. If so, why not try these simple steps to begin the process of an intimate relationship with the King of Kings? Nothing is worth being separated from God. Nothing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, don\u2019t listen to that old devil. He\u2019ll try every trick in the book to get you walk away from God. But you just turn to God and say, \u201cYou are my King forever! I will trust in You. Let\u2019s take a little walk together. I love You!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Donna<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To leave a comment, please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you read my blog on a regular basis, you\u2019re going to see a pattern develop. And it\u2019s not because I feel my readers need this information. Oh no. It\u2019s me who needs to write, read, and implement these ideas into my life. Now you may be feeling some of this in your own […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,296,13,16],"tags":[655,925,75,927,926],"class_list":["post-2024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-discovering-god","category-experiencing-god","category-finding-god","category-following-god","tag-james-48","tag-jet-lag","tag-lamentations-322-23","tag-laziness","tag-time-with-god"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2028,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2024\/revisions\/2028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Flight.jpg\" "\\"Flight\\"")
<\/a>I believe there are several reasons for this. I suspect I can blame jet lag for some of it. Return culture shock for some of it. Getting used to some processed American food for some of it. But I believe the main culprit is Satan has been telling me lies and then, I in turn, believe them.<\/p>\n