Some like it hot, but I must admit I am rather a mild girl. I am, of course, speaking about salsa! I love the salsa we get from a local Mexican restaurant with just a mild kick to it. I was recently searching in the deli case at the grocery story for something similar. I studied all the types of salsa they had; classic, home-style, and southwestern. I settled on the classic, and then continued looking...medium, medium, medium, mild! There is was. I picked up the mild salsa and put it in my cart, to finish my shopping and check out.
Imagine my surprise when I got home to discover I had gotten medium salsa! How could that have happened? I knew what I wanted, I searched for it, I found it, and I reached for it.But some where between the reaching and the picking up, I must have taken my "eyes off the prize." I was distracted, or thinking about the next item on my list, and the glance away was enough to make me pick up the wrong item, and my tongue burned as a result of the error.
This happens in my life too often. I know what I want to do, and I have every intention of doing the right thing, but then at the last moment I look away and end up doing the wrong thing. My distraction, or thinking about the next thing in my life makes me do the wrong thing, sin, and I could get burned (in hell!) as a result of that sin.
I'm so thankful that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. When I mess up (and I do more than I'd like!) I know that I only need repent (turn away from) and confess my sins to God and he will forgive them.
At the same time, I need to be more vigilant. I need to follow through with the appropriate actions. I know what I need to do, but I must keep focused and alert to do them. The Apostle Paul summed up our mistakes and sins this way, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15). But he reassures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:39)
1 Peter reminds us to be self controlled and alert. The devil is waiting to devour us, but the Spirit of God in us can help us resist and stand firm in our faith.
Knowing the right thing to do is not enough, we must follow through and do it. I resolve to be more intentional with my follow through, and stop allowing the world to distract me. How about you?
Knowing the right thing to do is not enough, we must follow through and do it. I resolve to be more intentional with my follow through, and stop allowing the world to distract me. How about you?
Kelly Combs is a Christian wife, mom, writer and speaker. You can learn about Kelly by visiting her website at www.kellycombs.com
3 comments:
I just love how God continues to show up Himself in every detail of life, even in the smallest seemingly insignificant ones. He is everwhere, and I think we too often forget that this means even in the small, easy-to-forget moments of life.
I try to keep God as the central focus in my life, but get distracted as much an anyone. But thankfully he always redirects me. I love that Guy! :-)
Yeah, me too. I am actually working on a post right now that gets at the inability to remain focused. Interesting how the thoughts come at a time when I am struggling with focus. God works that way!
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