What Will You Remove From Your Life

The Lenten season is upon us. This is a time where many people give up something they can temporarily do without. Some give up soda or alcohol, others a type of junk food, still more give up a form of entertainment. These are just things of the world that many should not return to.  Oh Lord have mercy on those who return to the things that bring temporary happiness and can be permanently removed. When Christ gave His life for us, He did not return to His flesh but was glorified. We are to remove things that take us away from God and keep them from our lives until there is nothing left but the Father. It is life long process but the rewards are plenty. The more we concentrate on God the better we hear Him and obey.Listen to what Joel told the People Israel…..
 
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near--
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.
 
Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?
 
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.
 
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples, `Where is their God?'" Joel 2:1-2,12-17
The last thing we as Christ followers need is to be asking where God is. Joel mentions that God wants to have a relationship with us and we cannot have a relationship while our focus is on the worldly temporary things that do not matter. So this season give something up that you will not return to.
Brothers and Sisters what I am asking is not something that is easy and I understand that. There are things that are difficult for me to give up but we must obey Him especially since He mentioned numerous times to give up things of the world so our thoughts and actions will reflect our lives in Christ. Be strong and stand firm in what you remove from your lives. Do not let Satan convince you it is okay to return to them.
Rob, Servant of God