Distance for Warfare: Growing Closer to GodSample

LOCK IN

I was recently on the phone with one of my mentees, and they told me how they struggled to complete their homework in a timely manner. I wondered why, so I asked; they told me that it was because they didn’t lock into the tasks they needed to get completed. They constantly became distracted by the notifications on their device and their thoughts that desired to do things that did not pertain to the task they needed to complete.

The next day, I was in a classroom with classmates who were a distraction, which caused my teacher to tell them to “lock into” their classwork to be educated on the subject being taught.

I don’t believe it was a coincidence that there was the constant use of the phrase “lock in” by various people I was around in 24 hours, but I believe God was sending me an important message that I had to heed.

In today’s scripture, Proverbs 4:25-26, Solomon is giving wise counsel to his sons on how to live a Godly life. Solomon encourages his sons to lock in so that they don’t enter the path of wickedness by heeding the advice being given to him from the Holy Spirit. Solomon goes on to emphasize the importance of critically thinking about the outcome of the decision made to either fall into distractions or choose to be steadfast because it would lead to much wiser living.

Often, we fail to fully lock into becoming who God has created us to be because of our easiness of getting distracted by trials, tests, and temptations. We can either aim to allow our trials, tests, and temptations to break us by turning to what our flesh desires that cause the enemy to sift us as weak, or we can make our trials, tests, and temptations make us by having enough spiritual discipline to turn from our wicked ways by seeking the Lord's face.

Every day, we will experience some form of spiritual warfare, but we must lock into who God has called us to be despite the various distractions we will be tempted with.

Together, let’s develop the discipline to stay focused on maturing as children of God to develop a strong spiritual foundation that sets us up to reach our full potential through Christ Jesus!