We live in a culture where our minds are so overstimulated with apps, social media, busy schedules, life demands, and everything in between and we have to recognize how destructive this is to our mental, spiritual, and even physical health.
Seriously.
I could sit here and type out all the facts about how our brains were designed to function—that they have one hundred billion neurons that are not meant to light up all at once, but the way our culture is set up, they, do and it’s not benefiting us. We live in an always-on culture. I mean, come on, we are so overstimulated we can’t even sit for that two-minute time span at a traffic light without picking up our phones to scroll.
Here’s what happens with the overstimulated mind: when those transmitters have been ignited in our brain at that high magnitude, it releases a chemical called dopamine, known as “the feel-good” hormone. Dopamine puts us in a state of euphoria. When we are not igniting those neurons in our brain at that magnitude, it feels like a big crash that leaves us feeling depressed. We then feel the intense need to “feel good” again, so we overstimulate ourselves to try to stay there. If our brains are not being stimulated at that magnitude (we think we’re checking out), we kinda freak out because we don’t know what to do with ourselves. We then begin to tell our mind and body that we need to check out more to feel okay, and that’s where we get caught in a cycle that is totally the enemy’s intention, taking us farther away from choosing God’s will, leading us to an over-stimulated, unsatisfied life. Truth be told, we cannot find rest for our souls or understand what it means to be still.
Do you know who loves watching us stay overstimulated and distracted, leading us to make choices that are just fillers and not the real deal from God?
The one who has a masterplan to derail us from the rich and satisfying life that Jesus came to bring us, including our God-given purpose in life.
The enemy!
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” —John 10:10 NLT
It doesn’t seem to take him a whole lot of effort to slither his way in and distract us. We’ve got an influx of flashing empty promises of hope and freedom as we compare our lives to the small corners of someone else’s life that they are choosing to share right at our fingertips.
Ahem . . . social media.
Apps with notifications . . . okay, so my ministry has an app, but it won’t lead you away from God’s best. It will point you straight to Him, so you can’t put it in that category.
Jus’ sayin’.
We are connected to everything and everyone, day and night, without turning it off.
This doesn’t even include the demands right in front of us.
Boss.
Kids.
Housework.
Office work . . . the checklists and everything in between.
Then the enemy just sits back and watches us wander aimlessly, filling ourselves with a never-ending task list and distractions that leave us busy but still hungry for more.
Or so focused on others’ lives through social media that we aren’t even doing much with our own.
How can we?
We are too distracted with entertainment, as our dreams and goals fade to the back of our minds, and then we struggle to connect with “why” we are feeling so empty inside. We then reach for more distractions to drown that vacant pit the distractions caused in the first place.
The enemy knows our “more” is with God and God alone. He absolutely doesn’t want us to come to this revelation because as soon as we do, he knows we become a threat to his dark kingdom.
Why?
Because we become free, living out that rich and satisfying life Jesus paid for. Not only does this dramatically change the course of our existence, but as we live in step with Jesus, we are continually filled with His supernatural joy and peace that others can feel and see, and from there, we can point them to the same kind of freedom.
This way of living becomes a positive trickle effect for God’s Kingdom.
When we understand that our fulfillment comes from stilling ourselves in the presence of God regularly, we can then hear the direction He has for our lives, and from there we can make decisions that line up with that God-given vision. It also empowers us to discern in each moment when satan is trying to find an in and derail us!
I’m not going to be publishing devotionals for the remainder of this year. Instead, I’m putting out a challenge to catch yourself in those quiet pause moments and rather than fill it with distractions, fill it with sitting in God’s presence. Don’t pick up your phone during those moments. Stop and connect with God. It can be as simple as telling Him you’re thankful that He’s near you.
You can put on a worship song and pay attention to the words…let the words become your heart’s prayer. Then pause the music and give yourself space to hear His still, small voice whisper to back your heart.
If you have a question that comes to mind or the quiet moments begin to bubble up emotions, fears, or insecurities that you’ve been avoiding, bring them to Him and give Him space to meet you in those vulnerable places. He wants to speak into every area of your life and fill you with a comfort and peace you cannot find in the busy.
Turn off the news.
Put down your phone.
You don’t need to research that question that popped into your mind.
Stop reading words from everyone else and get a word directly from Him.
Turn off the podcasts, YouTube, and all the other voices, and tune into His.
I promise you will find the peace your soul is longing for, the healing your mind and body need, and clarity for this coming new year.
No more being passive.
No more settling for crumbs, feeding off of others’ testimonies.
Get your own.
He satisfies our hunger in ways beyond human comprehension.
Nothing can compare to who He is and what He has for our lives. The only way we will ever know these ridiculously amazing truths is if we begin to take steps away from the fillers and distractions and toward the stillness of a life with Him.
It’s where rivers never run dry, where His peace never leaves us, and where His joy becomes our strength to persevere.
It’s where the mundane becomes an incredible adventure, where the supernatural becomes natural in our everyday life, and where we taste and see that there is nothing that will ever satisfy our cravings and that deep hunger within, like Him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him! Fear the Lord, you, His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. —Psalm 34:8-10 NLT
Today’s Devotional Challenge was adapted from my book, Life is Muddy: How to Conquer the Hard, Heavy, and Hurtful Parts of Life with God. I pray you were inspired to take the challenge.
Much love, J
P.S. I will be putting out reminders and encouragement throughout the week as well as the continual prayer and praise break notifications — use them as a gentle nudge to be still and connect with the One who sent His Son to restore us all to the close relationship that was lost in the garden.
