It’s time to come clean.
I’m an addict.
Now before you begin to worry and start Googling the nearest (and hopefully highest rated) treatment centers for me, I can assure you it’s not that kind of addiction. But that doesn’t make it any less detrimental to my health – physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
You see, addictions are like sin – in fact, I believe most addictions are a sin. They take our eyes off God. Although society will lead us to believe that some hold greater weight than others, a sin is a sin; and an addiction is an addiction. In the eyes of the One that matters, not one is greater than the other. They just are. And when we know we are in the thick of it, it is time to repent.
So here I am confessing to you, my friend, that I am an addict. I am addicted to many things: my phone, social media, buying books, Netflix and ch…ocolate, and a few other things. There are so many things that take my time away from the things that are really important; or take me away from what the Lord has really set on my heart. While some of these distractions may not constitute a true addiction, since I probably could quit a few of them cold turkey, the feelings I get from said things are something my human emotions crave.
I love the feeling when I get a yellow package stuffed in my mailbox. The careful opening of the padded envelope. (Heaven forbid I rip the cover or pages trying to get that nearly impossible thing to open open.) The firmness of the unopened book. The smell of the pages…. Oh, such beautiful thing. Before I even open the first pages, I feel like I’ve earned myself 100 Christian points for owning a book by a well-known and inspirational author. (Bonus points if I got it signed.) Again, it’s the feeling I get when owning and reading these books. But is what I get out of these books truly what I intend to get out of them?
I have about ten books on my reading shelf right now. I’ve started about 5 of them. They are all Christian books, written to inspire people like me to live lives full of love, truth, grace, and forgiveness. And I want to read all of them. Now. At the same time. I want to know how I can be the best person I can be so I can turn it around and inspire others to do the same. Now. Even before I’ve finished the books.
Even before I’ve finished them, I want to write about them. To retell part of the story. To encourage others to read. To be the best they can be. Those are my intentions.
Intentions…. That’s a funny word.
I intend to get closer to God.
The question then becomes: DID I?
Did I read all those books?
Did I inspire others?
Did I spend less time online and more time in real life?
Did I read the bible?
Did I get closer to God?
If my answers are no, then my intentions really mean diddly-squat. If I intend to confess my sins, my addictions, it means absolutely nothing unless I get something done.
And that’s the key: DO SOMETHING.
Don’t just have intentions. Be intentional. Write it down. Schedule it. Do what ever it takes to make those intentions into actions. PRAY. We can’t do this alone. Set your sights on the One who speaks to your heart.
Like I mentioned earlier, my addictions could be somewhat of a sin. You might wonder how something like reading Christian books can be a sin? After all, doesn’t it make me a better Christian? Well, yes, it can. It has the potential. But simply reading something does not make you a better anything, except maybe a better reader of words.
My work on social media becomes worthwhile when I DO SOMETHING. When I carve out my boundaries, set my limits and use my allotted hours to bring others closer to God through building and strengthening relationships. When I use my time wisely to partner with people around the world to breathe life into those who need it most. I begin to feel less worries about the likes and followers, and satisfaction and Joy in sharing the Word. It’s not up to me, for God is the one who will guide the right readers to the words I have written for Him.
I really love this post … reminds me so much of myself! I probably have 15-20 books in queue though, and my bedroom looks like Belle’s library in “Beauty and the Beast” ! God help us both to keep our attention on our intentions and away from our addictions . God bless !