Many times we allow a number of things to distract us from our personal relationship with Jesus. For instance, we can begin to give attention to the thousands of cares and concerns going on in the world. We are often inundated with all the world’s cares through the news, media, and social media. As a result we find ourselves spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically depleted. We become frustrated because we feel we’ve lost our connection with Him. We reach a road block on the road to our dreams and goals. We find ourselves with no direction in life, and spending time with Him becomes merely a chore instead of a desire.  

We can also get caught up the “doing” many Christians get caught in. In other words, we are doing a lot of good things for people and in service to the Lord, without actually spending time with Him. We can easily get out of balance in our relationships with others to the extent that we are neglecting our most important relationship.

However, this is not the Lord’s fault. We cannot blame Jesus when we neglect Him, and become burnt out. He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within each of us as a personal counselor. The Holy Spirit is also our advocate, guide, and our great teacher. He is always available and ready for us to acknowledge His presence. He is our great helper in a time of need.

Romans 8:26, AMP, states “So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.” Praying the Spirit is a way in which we rely on the Lord for strength; it is a grace gift. When we pray in the Spirit, we are no longer relying on our own abilities; we are relying on the Lord.

Another way we acknowledge the Lord is by reading, studying, and meditating on the Word. Everything we need to live our lives as Christians can be found in the Word of God. The Lord and the Word are one. “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God.  All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being” (John 1:1-3, AMP).

When we are distracted, something has stolen our focus. However, we can re-focus on what the Lord says to us through the Word. Proverbs 4:20-22 in the New Living Translation states, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” 

Focusing on Him is a way we respond positively to God’s promises. When we begin to place our trust in Him, we will find our heavy loads lifting from us. Matthew 11:30 states, “For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” We can tap into His peace when our minds are crowded by the cares of the world. And He keeps us in perfect peace, when we keep our minds our Him (Isaiah 26:3).