I wonder. When we try to give things up for various reasons, are they more of a distraction from the Lord than it is drawing us to Him?
This will vary from person to person and delves deeply into the issue of the heart.
I’ve noticed when I try to give up something like sugar or caffeine or too much tv, I become so incredibly focused on trying that I fail to focus on God. Instead, I’m focused on succeeding.
There is no doubt that a better strategy can be found through refining with practice. Whether it’s a trauma-response or defiance (the jury is still out) -- for whatever reason, I tend to go harder after the thing I am aiming to eliminate.
It begs the question -- is God asking this of me or am I putting this weight on myself? God does sometimes ask us to let go of something if it is getting in the way of him. But if trying to let go is itself distracting me from Him, it may be time to release the trying.
Just for a season—until the trying is no longer distracting from the reason.
xoxo,
Christin
Christin