We have been rightly warned repeatedly in Scripture “Do NOT be deceived”. Like many in the early churches we are convinced that we are doing well. But are we?

Revelation 3:2 “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”

Jesus rebuked His followers for being incomplete and distracted by busyness. Do we LACK the most important focus? Today are we DECEIVED to think we are standing FIRM while we scroll through the latest news rather than scrolling through the Scriptures?Do we give our Father our full attention for only 15 minutes a day? Do the apps on our phones make us efficient with our time, yet cause deep deficiencies in our relationships? Does our face to face time with God get eclipsed by Facebook? The news, sports, hobbies, or entertainment?

Do we worship only on Sunday for 30 minutes and walk away fully reprpsed? Scripture says “Remain in Me as I remain in you.” Does the Holy Spirit only remain in us for 30 minutes a day? Does He seek our attention only on Sundays? Has Holy Spirit been ignored or replaced with the common distraction of the nightly news, etc? Have we inquired of Him to give us an update on what He has been doing in us, in Israel, across the globe, or in the government of our personal affairs?

Revelation 3:3 “Remember, therefore, what you have RECEIVED and HEARD; HOLD it FAST, and REPENT. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” Our Merciful Savior warns.

Revelation 5:4-5 “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Has the Lion of Judah been discounted as being unworthy of our time and attention? Is our lions share of time being spent on things of greater importance? Technology exists to track our every move and moment. Measuring our time on social media, or on the latest news reveals our priorities. Eternal Journey

Do we choose to destroy our devices, idols, or vices or just put them on pause? Were our phones, tablets, TV’s all designed with the purest of puposes? Satan has his strategy in place, BUT GOD has His final Word. Our Father desires to keep us connected with our Source of all the Good News, the Truth and His Way. He beseeches us to “Look to Me and I will give you rest, peace, joy, and the confidence you need to persevere in faith.” Many will turn away, many will be deluded, many will be deceived by the pleasures found in the innocent enticements of the very clever Deceiver.

Revelation 3:8 “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. Since you have kept My command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

OUR MINDSET IS SELFISH. Without God, we are helpless to change a thing. We can “renew our minds” when we surrender to the One who makes all good changes. Distractions are the tactic of the deceiver. When we choose to turn to God, and turn off the noise, we tune into what the Spirit of God is saying, and He gladly changes us with a desire to please God.

1. Admit the distractions
2. Switch focus
3. Listen and obey
4. Give glory to God for what He is doing personally and globally.

IF we are rusty in our supplications, hastily we seek His mercy as we practice crying out of our hearts desire. He meets many sinners across the globe daily at His throne of Grace. It is by His mercy that all broken, contrite hearts get renewed and relieved as all sorrows are removed — Our Father faithfully replaces our defeats, with His grace. With unstaggering faith in Jesus, we present our petitions before the throne and trust that the Mercy Seat of God welcomes our defective words. With great business in heart, we kneel to transact with the Almighty, the King of heaven. Grace personified sits on the throne and we exalt Him with our worship and words. With our passport stamped by the blood of Jesus, we speak carefully, with perhaps limping, stammering, feeble words – but God — He encourages us to “Come

Come and give Me the burdens that I have placed on your heart.” With reverence we cherish the opportunity to approach the elevated throne of God. We tremble with humility before the One who has unlimited grace to bestow. Our God is a burning flame and LOVE is His name. He offers us a consoling grace and welcomes our pleading terms. We bow before His praying ground as our words pour out our wobbling words. All our words are intercepted by Jesus who alters and amends each prayer and He makes it relevant by His merit. The Sovereign does as He wills and He blesses the one who beseeches grace. Speaking out of our quaking heart, we trust that God shall not break His covenant. “Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find.” His word binds Him to hear our prayers and fulfill each promise.  Amen ❤️