What is Holding YOU Back?

I've recently got involved with Second Baptist Church of Conway. I got invited to a home group which meets on Wednesday night. We had our first meeting tonight and it was difficult. This isn't the home group that is going to avoid the tough questions. That's what I need; even though, there will be times that I don't like it. 

Tonight we were challenged to find something that we could each give up for a semester and spend more time with God because we gave up that one thing. Jonathan asked us to pray over the next week to see what God wanted us to give up. I knew instantly. It wasn't a hard question to answer because I know what is holding me back. He gave us a few minutes to pray and I honestly asked God to show me something else because I wasn't "ready" to give it up. HELLO!!! That should have slapped me in the face. I found the thing to give up. 

I know this sounds silly, but I get distracted when I'm on my computer and often type in "Twitter." No joke. I keep it on a tab just so I can check in with everyone while I'm doing other things. While that may not seem like a bad thing, it is hindering my relationship with Christ. Tonight, I decided to unsubscribe to texts, move the app on my phone to the last screen, and just restrict myself from reading twitter except during a certain small time frame. Like I said, this may seem ridiculous, but it's completely worth it.

Over the last few weeks, I've really felt the need to stay in touch with everyone since I'm away at college. I know what you're thinking..."Katelyn, you're not that far!" You're right. I just use it to make me feel "at home." I've let myself get so busy that I only devote a small amount of time. Wait a minute, I can't call it devoting because I haven't been giving it that much of an importance. Yes, I read my Bible and have a quiet time every day, but if I'm doing it just so I can "check it off my list" what is the point? It might be hard, but the amount of time a day that I would usually spend on Twitter is the time that I will add to my devotion to follow fervently after God.

My point in writing this is to challenge you--whoever is reading this. Are you devoting yourself to hear from God daily? Do you make it His time? Do you just do it to "check it off your list?" If you struggle with these questions, I want to challenge you to find something you can give up. Find something that is keeping you from being in God's Word without checking it off your list. 

I'm as guilty as anyone. You aren't alone. Join me in giving something up this semester. See what it can do in your life. I can't wait to see what it will do in mine.