Why do we miss stepping into God-given blessings and spiritual opportunities, and how do we change our path…(Click or scroll down to continue)
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Opportunities From God
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” - Colossians 3:2, ESV
Though there are many reasons why we miss stepping into God-given blessings and spiritual opportunities, let’s explore the pitfall of distraction.
Distraction
We often miss spiritual opportunities because we have our arms wrapped around a long list of activities and responsibilities, which consumes a massive amount of our finite time and attention. As a result, distraction can unfortunately isolate us from the Spirit of God and His voice.
When there’s little to no focus on the Lord because of life’s daily distractions, it’s possible to naturally become reactive to the world around us. Reactive living then becomes our only method in which to cope and survive. It keeps us chained to fleeting emotions and feelings that are based exclusively on events, situations, circumstances, and other people in our world.
God doesn’t want us to live under this crushing burden, as it’s not a life and mind that’s Christ-centered. He wants us to live with intention, in freedom under His yoke. Jesus promises:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We can’t experience God’s amazing opportunities when we aren’t looking towards Him in focused faith.
The Focus of Peter
Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, which allowed him to briefly walk on the waves of the sea. But when he shifted his eyes off Jesus and onto the fierce and violent waves, he sank (Matthew 14: 22-33, ESV). We too sink when we allow the waves of distraction to overcome us, rather than keep our eyes on Christ. Just as Peter experienced a miracle, with the Savior at the center of his focus and attention, we also can experience God’s supernatural opportunities for spiritual growth when we keep focused faith on Jesus.
The Clutter Has To Go
The flame of an oil lamp continues to burn and bring light into a dark room, but only when oil is in the lamp. The Holy Spirit is our oil, keeping the light of Christ lit within us. However, we need to always seek the replenishing of His oil- His fuel and power. When we remain full with Him, and seek His wisdom, the Spirit of God brings counsel and revelation. He reveals what we are to let go of in our life- what He deems unnecessary for this (or the next) chapter of our walk with Jesus.
Do you have clutter in your life that keeps you distracted, that is taking priority over God?
Consider your material, mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter, and what may be toxic. It could be an overly emotional attachment to a person, event, memory, situation, or circumstance. Or, an unhealthy attachment to a behavior, addiction, hobby, object, work, money, and the like.
And if bitterness, resentment, or unforgiveness is in your clutter, you can be sure to miss opportunities from God. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV).
Hold Loosely To The World
God wants us to be free to receive what’s next from Him. For what trapeze artist moves forward to the next swing, without letting go of the swing he is on?
You may hear prosperity gospel preachers and influencers say you need to keep your hands open so God can keep blessing you. Closed fists can’t receive blessing, they may say. That is definitely not today’s message. This isn’t about keeping yourself primed “to get” from God. It’s about aligning your heart with His, making His desires yours (Psalm 37:4, NASB1995), and then asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom in letting go of what He knows is unnecessary in your life. His interest is not to make you great, but to keep you surrendered and dependent upon Him, so that you become more like the person of Jesus Christ.
What God allowed or provided for you was beneficial in one season, but may not be serving you in this or an upcoming season. The day’s bread that the Lord gave the Israelites in the wilderness was good and nourishing. But to hold it until the following today was against God’s command, and it spoiled with worms and stank (Exodus 16:14-20, ESV).
Unable To De-Clutter
Many are juggling marriage, children, friends, work, school, church, and many other important responsibilities. Though our attention is greatly divided, it may not be possible to drop any one of these.
Even in ministry, we can sometimes get distracted by the work to be done in the name of Jesus Christ, eroding our personal time and closeness with Him.
However, we can adopt the mind of Christ, spiritually surrender, and be intentional on depending on the Holy Spirit. Pray for His strength, wisdom, counsel, and conviction, to re-prioritize and set wise timeframes. Pray for His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control to be produced and grow within you, to persevere in adversity, and reflect the light of Christ to the world (Galations 5:22-23, CSB).
Paul was imprisoned often, but he didn’t cave to his circumstances. Rather, he sought joy and peace in the Lord at all times, turning his view of imprisonment into a mission field (2 Corinthians 6:4-10, NIV). As a result, we received his letters that make up nearly half of the New Testament. If he had kept his eyes locked on his imprisonment rather than Christ, he would have missed the God-given opportunity to reach you and me with God’s precious Word. It continues to illuminate, feed, and strengthen us today.
“But He [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Lastly…
Our need and dependence on God is His beautiful and perfect design for us. He can show us so much more and open the doors of His blessings and spirtual opportunities when we keep Him at the center of our attention and focused faith at all times.
And we can pray:
Father God, we come to you in surrender and humbled heart. We repent of allowing the distractions of this world to come between us and you. We pray Holy Spirit for your wisdom, revelation, and guidance. Show us the things in our life that we need to re-prioritize or eliminate, so that we can be ready to step into your opportunities. Lord Jesus, we pray all of these things in your powerful and almighty name. Amen.
From Today’s Sponsor…
Health
This Week’s Health Pick
Collagen Powder: The Benefits
Collagen provides your body with strength, structure, and support. Your body makes collagen naturally by combining amino acids, the building blocks of proteins found in food.
As you age, your existing collagen breaks down, and it gets harder for your body to make more. So, many people turn to collagen powder or other types of collagen supplements, such as capsules, gummies, and liquids.
Collagen powder is a popular dietary supplement used to support skin elasticity, joint mobility, bone density, and hair or nail strength. It consists of animal-derived proteins broken down into easily digestible chains called hydrolyzed collagen peptides.
Types of Collagen Powders
While there are over 28-29 types of collagen in the body, supplement powders primarily focus on three:
Type I: For skin elasticity, hair, nails, bones, and tendons. Made from bovine, marine, and eggshell membrane. Type I makes up 90% of the collagen in the body.
Type II: Found strictly in cartilage and elastic tissues. This type is typically sourced from chicken, but can also be from beef cartilage. It’s chosen specifically to combat joint stiffness or alleviate osteoarthritis discomfort.
Type III: The most abundant forms in the body. They are primarily sourced from bovine hides, bones, and cartilage. Used to support skin hydration, minimize fine lines, and strengthen tendons.
At least one collagen powder brand contains Types I, II, III, IV, V, X:
Type IV: Cell health and growth (from trace eggshell membrane)
Type V: Skin, tendons, and immune support (from eggshell membrane and marine sources)
Type X: Joints, bones, muscles, and hair (from eggshell membrane)
Key Health Benefits
Enhances Skin Elasticity: Daily intake stimulates your cells to produce more of their own collagen. This increases skin hydration, reduces dry patches, and visibly smooths out fine lines and wrinkles.
Reduces Joint Discomfort: Collagen peptides accumulate in your cartilage over time. This cushions your joints, reduces friction, lowers inflammation, and eases pain from daily exercise or osteoarthritis.
Prevents Bone Loss: Bones are made mostly of collagen, which keeps them strong but flexible. Supplementing helps maintain bone mineral density, reducing the risk of brittle bones and fractures as you age.
Strengthens Hair and Nails: The amino acids in collagen—especially proline—give your body the building blocks needed to create keratin. This leads to thicker hair growth and prevents brittle, easy-to-crack fingernails.
Supports Muscle Mass: Collagen contains a concentrated amount of glycine, an amino acid that helps synthesize creatine. This supports lean muscle mass retention and speeds up post-workout muscle recovery.
Promotes Gut Integrity: Some evidence suggests the structural amino acids in collagen help soothe and repair the delicate lining of your digestive tract, supporting overall gut health.
How To Maximize the Benefits
Pair with Vitamin C: Your body cannot physically synthesize collagen without Vitamin C. Always take your powder alongside a vitamin C supplement, or mix it into a drink like orange juice or a berry smoothie.
Consistency is Key: Skin improvements typically take 4 to 8 weeks to appear, while joint and bone benefits require 3 to 6 months of daily use.
Check the Label: Look for words like "hydrolyzed peptides" on the container. This means the protein is already broken down into tiny pieces that your body can instantly absorb and use.
How Much To Take
Research has shown that adults can safely consume between 2.5 and 15 grams of collagen a day. Read the label on your supplement to see how much it contains.
Potential Side Effects & Safety
Digestion: Mild gastrointestinal issues like minor bloating, a heavy feeling in the stomach, or mild heartburn can occur if taken in excessive doses.
Contamination: Because supplements face limited FDA oversight, choose brands that strictly utilize independent third-party certification to guarantee freedom from heavy metals like lead or cadmium.
Vegan Claims: Actual collagen is inherently animal-derived. "Plant-based" alternatives do not contain collagen; they provide structural building blocks like vitamin C and specific amino acids to support natural synthesis.
As with any supplement, please be advised to check with your doctor before taking collagen as a supplement.
In case you missed it, you can check out the last devotional below. Or click here for the full archive.
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” -Matthew 5:8. Is it possible to see God, and at all times?…(Click to continue)
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