Proactive Commitments

Welcome to Faith Connections Friday!

We are in a series for the next several weeks focusing on Psalm 119. If you would like to read ahead, read the entire psalm or a section each week. We are so glad you are here and hope you enjoy the series! Thank you!

What safety measures do you take to protect your treasures? Monitored security systems. Cameras. Alarms. Passcodes. Neighborhood watches. Locked doors and windows. Insurance. Routine maintenance.

These suggestions can create fear or rest. The reasons for protecting our valuable treasures ultimately depends on how much you trust the service providers or your neighbors. We trust that the service providers are experts in their field and will perform what they promise.

Basically, protecting our families and treasures requires being proactive and diligent.

What about the commitment to our personal spiritual growth?

Our personal spiritual growth is also an area in which we must be proactive and diligent.

Our Scripture passage this week is Psalm 119:9-16. It tells us how we can stay focused on God. It expresses our trust in God for spiritual growth when we commit to following His Word and His ways.

Though we may have good intentions, we will quickly face opportunities that will distract us from our desired focus on God. Here are some tips for protecting ourselves from distractions.

* Commit to spending time every morning reading and focusing on God’s Word and praying. Get up a few minutes earlier. Starting your day this way sets the tone for the rest of your day. Plus, you may find that you are more productive.

* Listen to praise and worship music or an audio version of the Bible instead of the news.

* Put hedges of protection around yourself so you are not placed in a compromising situation. For example, if your route to or from work presents a temptation, take a different route, even if it adds a few minutes.

Faith Connections Challenge: Read and focus on the Scripture passage for this week, Psalm 119:9-16. Try one of the tips listed or one of your own for a couple of weeks and see how your focus changes.