What Distractions Are Between You and Jesus?

Just the other day I was preparing to spend some quiet time with Jesus in my prayer closet and I decided to make a bengal spice latte. I love chai lattes but can’t have them because of the caffeine. A friend of mine introduced me to bengal spice tea several months back and I have enjoyed it ever since. Because the flavor profile is so similar to chai, recently I decided to brew it in almond milk and add a bit of vanilla with some caramel macchiato creamer, and let me tell you, it’s delicious!

This has become my morning treat and alternative to caffeine. I was so excited to get my drink prepared and go sit before the Lord. I prepped everything on the stove per usual, filled my cup to the brim, and headed to my prayer closet. After sitting down, I took a few sips of my drink. I settled in my seat cushion getting quite comfortable under my heated blanket and I received a soft yet direct command, “pour it out.” I sat confused for a second. Surely after all that prep and only enjoying a few satisfying sips of my latte, the Lord wasn’t saying what I just thought. Yet again, He made it clear, “pour it out." I sat there about a minute longer in confusion and disappointment, then made my way to the kitchen reminding myself, “You’re going to be obedient even if it doesn’t make sense!” and proceeded to pour my latte down the drain. I rinsed the cup, then the sink, and placed the cup to the side on the counter. I grabbed a bottle of water, tossed it up and caught it in my hand, and headed right back to my prayer closet.

I realized the latte was what I wanted, but the water was what I needed. Jesus made me aware that I was more excited to drink my latte in His presence, than I was excited to be in His presence. I was really excited about that latte. You can tell from my recall and description of the event and how expectant I was in the moment. I looked forward to the momentary contentment and satisfaction that came with drinking that latte in my secret place. But, was I excited or in eager anticipation like that to meet Jesus in our secret place? Was Jesus condemning me for drinking a latte or saying I can never drink one in his presence? No. However, He did help me see how easily my feelings can lead me to other comforts, which turn into habits, that can quickly form idols.

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding, and with all your strength.” -Mark 12:30 AMP

Through this small illustration with the latte, Jesus was reminding me that I have to be willing to “pour it out” or in other words get rid of the distractions and temporary comforts that steal my affections from Him, and get to a place of just delighting in Him. So, he had me pour out the latte and replace it with what I needed, water,  because honestly I had not been drinking enough!  What the Lord was really saying, “You need Me, the living water!” My distractions and temporary comforts are not all bad. But, when I focus and depend on them more than I do Jesus that is error and idolatry.

When God revealed what I had been placing before Him, I repented and asked for forgiveness. I received His forgiveness and asked for a new hunger, thirst, and desire for Jesus. I encourage you to do the same. What things have been distracting you, exciting you, or comforting you more than Jesus? I challenge you to pray about this, ask God to reveal them to you. Once you know, it may help to write them down. Then repent for making those things more important than Jesus and release them back to Him in prayer. Pray for a new hunger and desire for Jesus, that Holy Spirit teach you to make Him your first love.

“But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].” -Revelation 2:4 AMP

Why is this important? Because we need to know our source, Jesus, and we need to delight in His presence. Consulting with Jesus first must become a discipline, and desiring his presence the norm in life, obviously for spiritual maturity, but especially for the maintenance of our emotional wellness.

Until the next one, “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11

-Sophia