Duty or Delight?

I've been very distracted latley. When I'm reading my Bible, I will find my mind wondering to some far off imaginary place. The only "quiet time" I get is 30 minutes before work and an hour on lunch. The Lord knows I am easily distracted so I believe He has provided me those times completley alone with Him so it is just the two of us. However, even in those times I find it very hard to concentrate. I start thinking of all the chores that need to get done at home, all the bills we have yet to pay. I start wondering how my husband and kids are doing. Before long I begin to be bombarded with thoughts such as "this is boring" or "I'm just doing this out of duty, I'm just going through the motions, because this is what's expected of me" Before long I get frustrated and give up.

I delight in the fact that I hear from God! Learning from Him and His example is exciting!!! I wish nothing more than to sit at His feet and listen to His teachings forever. When He gives me something to say to a friend, or when my Lord whispers to my heart I feel loved. I can't possibly be going through the motions.

There are other times, when I mess up or go the wrong way or say the wrong thing that I begin to think this is all too hard. Too many rules. I begin to get weighed down with feelings of failure and sadness.

Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy

That keeps running through my head. I believe God is putting that on my heart to open my eyes.

Satan has been stealing our quiet time and the sad horrible thing is, I let him. I get so frustrated that I can't turn my mind off of the distractions that I just give up and tell myself I"ll get back to reading later. He's trying to destroy my relationship with God, He's trying to kill the overwhelming joy I feel every time I spend time with my Lord.

I serve God out of delight, out of complete and total love. It's an amazing love He has for us as my sweet sister so wonderfully describes it. I feel His love for me when He shows me something new and no amount of distraction will keep me from my Jesus.

Is it a delight for you to hear from God? Do you find yourself easily weighed down by the thought of rules and regulations? Do you feel like your quiet time is uneventful or even interrupted every day?

I pray God will reveal Himself to you so strongly today that you won't be able to miss Him. I pray He will open your eyes to what's holding you back from going further and deeper with Him, and I pray you feel His wonderful neverending love for you.