Have you ever found yourself sitting in church, listening to the sermon, and suddenly your mind begins to drift? Or perhaps you are in the midst of singing praises to the Lord and you discover that your mind isn’t focused on the words that your mouth is uttering? Or maybe it’s during the service that your mind is suddenly bombarded by the myriads of things on your to-do list or the things you accomplished during the week. Meanwhile, you aren’t hearing a word your pastor is saying!

This is a continual problem for me, and I often have to remind myself that I go to church to worship God and experience Him corporately, not to pursue in my mind the things I have laid to rest in order to be able to enjoy God on a personal level!

This text hits home: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Matt 15:8 NIV) Aren’t we often times filled with heartless lips? Our lips are singing to the glory of God, but our heart is far from what we are actually saying? Are we really giving God the glory or are we cherishing another illicit lover who prevents us from enjoying God’s company?

Imagine a boyfriend (or a girlfriend) who tells you: “Whenever I am with you, I can’t stop myself from thinking about this other cute guy (or attractive girl). For some reason I cannot concentrate on what you are telling me.” Would you continue dating that person?

This kind of double-mindedness can get worse! Imagine it invading the core of our relationship with God. What would happen then? James is quite clear about this: “When he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:6-8 NIV )

Ouch! That sure hurts! Is it possible that our double-mindedness keeps us from experiencing God fully in our lives? Is it possible that our prayers are not answered because we are too busy thinking about something other than God’s promises? Has doubt crept up in our souls because we let our hectic circumstances dictate our life? Has stress overrun our faith?

Interestingly enough, many do cherish their daily to-do lists, and many favour their myriads of activities. Sadly, many also don’t experience God the way they could, many in fact are estranged with the lover of their soul.

“‘Will you go out with me? Are you willing to listen attentively to how much I Iove you and how I constantly think about you? Will you return the favour and start experiencing me fully?’ Asks the Lord.”

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth – for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out.” (Song 1:2-3 NIV)

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20 )(NIV

Will we accept His invitation?

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Addictive Lovers of our Life” devotional series, please click here.)