Where are you?

This is a question that God asked Adam and Eve in the garden. “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?" (Genesis 3:8-9 AMPC)

Their sin had caused them to hide. God was asking them, "Where are you?" You see, God knew where they were. He’s God. He’s all seeing. What He really wanted to know was where is your heart?

Where are you? Where is your heart? This week you’ve been asked to set things aside like secular music, headphones, video games, cell phones, TV - things that can keep our hearts distracted from Jesus.

Where is your heart? Are you immersed in the latest TV series? In Instagram? In where your friends are this week? In your latest crush? In anxiety? In your problems? Where are you?

This week, you’re going to go out and pour the love of Jesus into others. You’re going to serve your community. You’re going to work hard. You’re going to pray for others. You’re going to be immersed in the presence of the Lord. You’ll spend every morning in devotions and every evening being poured into with the word and worship. You’re going to be immersed in His presence as you walk the streets as Jesus did sharing His love with others. This week is going to be intense. Your body, your mind - they’ll be tired, but I guarantee you, you’ll feel more alive than ever! Alive because you’re giving of yourself. You’re loving others. You’re laying aside idols and picking up tools of service and love. You’re filling yourself with worship, prayer, and scripture. You see, Jesus is the Bread of Life. When we feast on the things of the Lord, we’re filled with life. Sustenance that fills like nothing else can.

In Colossians, we read, “Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm... You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity. Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful.” (Colossians 3:1-2 and 3:12-15 TPT)

I challenge you this week to lay aside distractions and idols that keep your mind focused on the temporal things of this life and do as the scripture says. Put on mercy, gentle ways, patience, a good attitude, forgiveness, peace, gratitude and love. And then, I challenge you further. Don’t let it stop there, but take it home with you. Continue to lay aside the distractions. The things that keep your mind focused on earthly things, rather than on Jesus. Immerse yourself daily in His presence with prayer and time in His word. Set your heart on things that are above. It won’t just shift your week, but it will change your life!

Talk with your cabin:

- Where are you? Where is your heart?

- What is trying to distract you from Jesus this week?

- What do you need God to supply you with?