Be still.
For the past few weeks, it has been on my heart and mind to make some changes.  I had come to a decision last Friday, and then my pastor’s sermon confirmed it. (Doesn’t it often feel that a certain Sunday sermon was directed specifically to you?)
Pastor Brain preached from Joshua 5:13-15 and related the “Jordans” in our life to successes, and the “Jerichos” to challenges.  He always ends the sermon with a “What now?”  The five bullet points to last Sunday’s “What now?” are:

• Thank God for your Jordan Rivers that have been overcome.
• Acknowledge your Jericho’s – to yourself and to the Lord.
• Spend time with the Lord.
• Obey. Remember, He will NEVER tell you to do something that contradicts His Word.  And, you will have to fight. (Get in there and go after it!)
• Someone’s Jordan may be your Jericho, or your Jordan may be someone’s Jericho. Encourage one another.

All these reminders are spot on, yet numbers three and four spoke to me.
I was saddened to realize that lately my prayer life and time with God had been a bit shallow.  You see, I love to pray, see God work in big ways when prayer is involved, and love to pray for others.  Yet, lately I noticed that when someone ask me to pray for them, I do immediately and then their requests may go to the wayside. And when it came to my own personal prayers, I felt like, “Here I am again God.  Same requests.  Still waiting.”  My prayer life became very rote, and it felt stagnant.
When it came to spending time with God, yea…I would chat with Him throughout my day and see Him in daily life situations.  But where was the depth?  I’d read my daily bible verse, and even dig a little deeper at times, but it just wasn’t satisfying enough.
I asked myself, “What’s missing?”  The answer was:  Be still and spend sincere time with the Lord.
When I would evaluate the distractions in my life, one major variable was social media.  I noticed that if I had down time, I’d simply pull out my phone, click on Facebook or Instagram, and begin to mindlessly scroll.  Scrolling through other people’s lives.  Oh yes, I enjoy catching up and seeing what is going on in the lives of family and friends, but I missed an opportunity.  An opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose in my life.  An opportunity I know He’s been wanting me to do for quite some time, yet I’d choose to spend time watching others’ life happen instead of actually doing what He wants me to do.
I recently read a book by Dr. Kurt Fox, The Will of God Simplified, and some of the points that Dr. Fox wrote about really challenged me.
This stagnant season will become a joyous one when I focus on God and desire to follow His plan for my life.
So, for some unknown amount of time, this girl will choose to not be distracted by social media, and yet be still in God and spend some quality time with Him as I seek to do His will.
If you are reading this and only normally view Soaking up The Son via social media, I hope that you will subscribe  to this website so you won’t miss any journal entries that God reveals to me during this season.  Journal entries will continue on the website (not on social for a while). It may be two weeks, or it may be a month until I view Facebook or Instagram again, who knows…God does.  If you need to reach me, you can comment below (website, NOT Facebook…I won’t see it) or by email, [email protected].  Also, I had created a YouTube channel just to be able to upload videos for the website, and a handful of people have actually subscribed to it. What?  Anyhow…you can go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOITcY2BByJlk-7B7_beBzw to subscribe if you want.  I’ll keep posting video blogs when God has me to do so.  To God be ALL the glory!
This WILL be a “Jericho” for me to not be distracted, but I know God has a “Jordan” waiting for me.
HAPPY 2019 to you all! Peace out social media! A true commitment.
Keep soaking up The Son wherever you are.  Stay focused on God, and love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
 

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