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Proverbs 12:15- "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."

Most of us operate on a strict routine. We understand that there are so many hours in a day to accomplish a laundry-list of things to do, so we determine in our minds that there is nothing that will stop us. We become so acclimated to performing things a certain way that we often believe that our method is the only way to completing a task. Along with our performance-based society comes the added pressure of maintaining the edge to get through a given week. One can easily become blinded by ambition and lose their sense of peace. Many indulge in addictive behaviors to help cope with the stress and anxiety of trying to overachieve; in a matter of time, those addictions can permeate their spirit and become a part of their nature. It's truly amazing how one is willing to compromise their values just to fulfill someone's expectation.

I've often been labeled as a goal-oriented individual. I enjoy the prospect of having a list of things to accomplish and the satisfaction of crossing those items off the list when completed. Prior to this calendar year of 2021, I constructed my own personal spreadsheet of objectives to accomplish. This personal diagram included statistics, graphs, video recordings, and a host of supporting documents that was going to propel me into the next tier of my life. I thought I was prepared to take my professional career to the next level. I anticipated that my extensive work history would qualify me for a promotion, but my expectation was generated from my own understanding. I became so immersed in my own pursuits, that my overall countenance begin to shift. In the course of a given work week, I found myself becoming critical and suspicious of others around me. Instead of seeking a resolution, I became combative in nature and felt a need to defend my territory. I was gradually losing my joy and this had an effect on my ability to praise God in spirit and truth. The majority of what I set out to do was done out of obligation. The Lord had to get to my attention...

Prior to this Spring season, I began to have dreams of warfare and desolation. During the course of my dream sequence, I would find myself isolated in a dry, barren location with sword in hand, warding off violent attacks. The Holy Spirit began to reveal God's plan for my life. I distinctly recall the voice of the Lord saying can you trust Me? In that moment, I knew that I was about to endure the harsh reality of walking away from what had become an idol in my life, the idol being my career. I stepped away from a very promising career and spent an extensive amount of time in the presence of the Lord. In that season, the Holy Spirit began to purge out the toxins of my self-righteous nature. I repented for harboring a judgmental spirit and an instantaneous wave of joy began to flood my soul. As I began to surrender to the Lord, He allowed me to complete some spiritual assignments that I had neglected for an extended amount of time. I had clarity of thought and my praise and worship was elevated to a new level.

Here's the challenge: What is preventing you from experiencing a full measure of God's presence? If you are doing things out of obligation, there is strong possibility that an idol has been used as a substitute for your devotion to the Lord. No matter how practical something may appear, it should never overrule your relationship with God. By the grace of God, we have been delivered from the snares of addiction, destruction, and ultimately death. Let's not forfeit our freedom by climbing back into the bondage of our sinful nature. It's important to recall the commission of Christ in which we are reminded that if we place our hand on the Gospel plough only to continue to look back at our former lives, we aren't fit for His Kingdom. May you find time to pause and make a complete surrender to Lord Jesus Christ. May the power of the Holy Spirit become activated in your life and compel you to find satisfaction in serving the Lord and being a blessing to everyone in your midst.