“Your relationship with God is similar to other relationships in your life.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (pp. 186-187). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Relationships are so important in our lives. As Ruben Welch said, “We really do need each other.” We really do. So how are your relationships going? How is your God relationship going?

Craig says, “If you neglect your time with God because you keep allowing yourself to be distracted, you’re missing out on an intimate connection with him. Your relationship with God is similar to other relationships in your life. If you neglect the important people in your life because you keep interrupting your time together, then you’re hurting them.”

He goes on, “If you’re checking your fantasy football results while trying to have a conversation with your wife, she will feel slighted. If you’re checking Facebook or blogging instead of helping your kids with homework, then they’ll assume they’re not important enough to merit your time. If you can’t unplug for at least a few minutes each day to be still and listen to what God may want to say to you, then you are sending him the same kind of message.”

He then says, “I’ll never forget when Amy told me straight up, ‘You shouldn’t let your phone interrupt our family time together at dinner. The church can survive forty-five minutes without you.’ She could not have been more right. It was uncomfortable, but it was something I needed to hear. But I had to make a plan to change my bad habit.”

Is this a problem for you?

Craig then shares, “Maybe when you’re together for a meal, all the phones will be silenced and vibration turned off, and they will be placed face down in the middle of the table. I have some friends who have a basket by their refrigerator for this purpose. When everyone comes to dinner, they turn off their phones and put them in the basket. Nobody gets their phone until dinner is over and Mom and Dad pass them back out. This is a pretty easy place to start. You don’t have to keep this defense just within your family, either. Maybe you should use the same defense during your small group or time with the friends you’re doing life with.”

So do you have a problem with distractions?

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