Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
But the truth is that any time you spend reading Scripture and praying is not wasted time. If you seek Him, you’ll find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13). Don’t let believers—whether they’re well-intentioned or ill-intentioned—discourage you from trying to go deeper with God. This post has a few ideas (not rules) that may help you in your pursuit.
As you know, TTT is a place where God’s Word meets our mess. It’s where I share personal stories + Scripture to encourage you. And I realize I write about the importance of “being real” with others quite often. But I also realize it can be difficult to do that in a co-ed setting, like a co-ed small group through your church. That’s why I want to share three practical ways you can be transparent in your co-ed small group (without being awkward).
During the sermon at church, I think about where we’re going to eat lunch after the service. As I read my Bible, I worry about my new job that’s starting soon. When I sing praise songs, I stare at the girl leading worship and wonder if she’s prettier than me. During prayer, I think about my blog stats and how to get more “likes” on my posts. Why can’t I simply think about the sermon that I’m hearing, the verses that I’m reading, the songs that I’m singing, or the words that I’m praying?
Sure, I do my quiet time. I actually do sit down with my Bible, journal, and colored pens. But I rush through my devotions. I don’t set my alarm early enough. I hurry off to class without even praying. I suppose it's not surprising that God seems so far away.
Clearly, I couldn’t focus on the task at hand: doing my quiet time. Even though I try to have a regular quiet time, I don’t always meet that goal. And I certainly have trouble focusing while I do it. So why do I bother? What's the real reason that I have a quiet time?
Perhaps you can relate to my experience. Maybe you live in a cramped dorm room where your roommate frequently blares her music. Or maybe you have a baby brother who cries constantly. Or maybe you live in a big city where the traffic outside your room is insanely loud. I understand that it can be hard to have a quiet time in a busy or noisy atmosphere, but there are some practical ways to handle the distractions.
You may be spiritually dry, but you aren’t spiritually dead, thanks to Christ’s death and resurrection. As a Christian, you can still feel distracted and far from God and spiritually dry.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 