I recently found myself praying to God for blinders to block out the distractions that send me on a careening path away from Him. I am thinking of those things they used to put on the sides of horses eyes to keep them from getting distracted/spooked (this is my understanding, anyways). Already God has given me some tools to put the blinders on, once I have realized I am really at a moment of needing them. A frequent place of weakness which I cannot completely avoid is the store. Usually it is just the grocery store, however occasionally I find myself in, let's say, "World Market", and suddenly my senses are on fire - there are these bright colors and great smells and SURELY I need a patterned cushion for chairs I do not yet have, and that MUST be a good deal, because I can't find THOSE anywhere else and.... you get the idea. Earlier this week, in such a situation, in my mind I found myself saying, "Stuff, stuff, stuff.."(this in turn made me think of the veggietales song called "*Stuffmart") It really toned down the intensity of the temptation, and I could see the things for what they are - stuff. Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying stuff in general is bad. But, it is the love of stuff, it is the idolatry of stuff - when I become intoxicated by purchasing such that I will turn to doing that rather than seeking God when I am hurting/tired/sad/mad/ or whatever negative emotion I am feeling - that is where the problem comes in. Our God is a jealous God. "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) He wants us to come to Him FIRST.
And this stuff, it can make us feel better temporarily. Is getting an amazing bargain a bad thing? I don't know that it is. Sometimes it is a huge way God blesses us and provides for us. But, I do know that when I have sought to 'heal' myself by purchasing (or eating, or whatever one might use) I get an immediate high, but then afterwards, I don't feel so great. The tricky part is I often don't realize I am doing this when I am in the middle of it. But I am learning. God is teaching me when I keep coming back to Him.
Some great Christian author (might have been C.S. Lewis - I will have to
check) said that Satan doesn't have to do anything fancy or well
thought out to impede the kingdom of God coming upon the earth. All he
has to do is simply distract us.
*The point of the song is that Madame Blueberry (insert name here), really, you just need MORE STUFF. Then, you will feel better. See link below for video clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvtEDPklx4U
**I have just realized my relatively newest weakness - internet shopping! Especially late at night if I can't sleep. THAT is dangerous. . .
