Have you ever realized how much time is spent on your cell phone, watching TV, being on the internet (I know this is ironic for a blog!) listening to an i-pod, reading magazines, reading books or even sleeping? Most people could spend an entire day doing all of these things not realizing how much they are missing. Missing out on family, friends and more importantly God! Have you ever thought about how much time you spend on the things listed above before you spent time with God? Maybe you have even spent time doing those instead of spending time with God.
A few weeks ago I went to CIY MOVE in Holland, Michigan with 7 students and one other adult sponsor. From Monday until Saturday I went without checking my email, getting on Facebook, checking on my favorite sports teams. I also limited my use of the cell phone. Instead I was focused on the reason God has us there. Guess what, I lived through it and even grew to know and love God more. All of these things that we place before God, all of these things that become idols, hinder us. Sometimes we need freedom from the world of technology, we definitely need freedom from sin, but the real freedom comes from Christ, what he did for us.
James 4:8, “Come near to God and we will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.” That week, the students, the one other sponsor and I did exactly what James instructs us to do. We did everything we could to draw ourselves to God, we washed our hands and purified our hearts, it was AMAZING! I want to challenge you to do the same. Remove idols, find freedom, and come near to God, when you do this you will find what really matters.
