If you came over from Encouragement for Today, I’m so glad you are here! Living Free Together is a community of women who desire to live free in every way. I hope that you’ll come back often. ~ Suzie
It had more of me than I wanted. . .
It all started when some of my close friends and I were talking about how much our phones had taken over our life. My phone was no longer just a phone. It had become a part of me. It was always in my hand. It was close by, even at meals. I scrolled through social media, sometimes even when people I loved about were near.
That’s when my friends and I made a pact to give our phones less of us for a month. In those first few days, I felt drawn to pick it up. I almost itched to scroll through social media or check my email or news app.
Some how I come to think that I was missing something if my phone wasn’t in my hand.
After the 30 days ended, something shifted. I no longer needed my phone in my hand 24/7. I had to be diligent about it, but it didn’t get to be the boss of me anymore.
As you and I spend time together today, this conversation isn’t really about a phone. Rather, it’s about that moment when we realize that something (a person, a habit, an addiction, a behavior, a pattern, a sin, or a phone) has more of us than we want to give. . . and what to do about that.
Know that God loves you right where you are
Our tendency is to run the other direction when we feel weak in any area. We equate “battle” with “unworthy” or “unloved.” The greater the battle, the more those thoughts can hinder us.
God’s love for us doesn’t waver in the battle.
It’s brave to admit that something has more of us then we want it to. Rather than hide our struggles, make excuses, or run the other way, we turn to a God who loves us like crazy and hold it up in the light of his love.
Lord, this thing (this person, this addiction, this habit, this attitude, this thing that has little value) has more of me than I think it should. I know you want me to live totally free, untangled, wholly open to all the good you have for me and those I love. Will you help me?
We admit that there’s a stronghold but also that God breaks those chains.
Be aware
One night I picked the phone back up because I couldn’t sleep. I scrolled through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, news apps. It didn’t help me sleep at all. It just led me down an endless road of scrolling. Before I knew it, there was that itch again. The need to be in the know. Thinking I was missing something if I didn’t have the phone nearby.
The next morning when I woke up, my eyes were heavy from lack of sleep. I was frustrated that I had got sucked back into the scrolling vortex. So, I took the social media apps off my phone and started fresh.
Whether this was a big deal for anyone else or not, this wasn’t God’s best for me.
If something is taking anything from you that is good or valuable, that’s important to note. This isn’t about being legalistic or beating ourselves up or even comparing our battle with someone else (whether it’s worse, better, not as big a deal).
It’s being honest with ourselves. It’s being aware that this trips us up and robs us of good things.
Lord, the enemy has a plan for me, but so do you and that’s the plan I receive today. You desire that I live an abundant, full life. When I start down a road that isn’t healthy for me, give me the wisdom and discernment to turn the other way, and the courage to follow through.
Realize that you are worth fighting for
Maybe this is where you think I’m going to share a plan of some sort. Perhaps a one-two-three “do this” step-by-step formula.
It’s not.
Instead, may I share an excerpt with you from The Spirit-Led Heart?
On one side of the ring, the contender holds his hands in the air. He’s circling, posturing as if he’s greater, bigger. He believes that he is cunning, and he’s already acting as if he’s the winner.
The one standing on the other side of the ring is meek, but there’s no mistaking his strength. He’s surrounded by a host of angels. His beauty is not in his countenance, but in his love for humankind. He’s fighting not for himself, but for the world. Despised and rejected, he is a man of suffering, familiar with pain. The punishment that brings peace is upon his shoulders, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:3, 5).
This battle is the true battle and has already been won.
When we are in a battle, no matter what that looks like, we may feel crushed, bruised or forsaken. We may feel that we are without help. We may not know how to help ourselves.
We have a Helper!
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 (NIV)
We have someone fighting on our behalf. We are worth fighting for. We’ll have plenty to do to meet that battle in the flesh, but he reveals how to combat spiritually. The Spirit of God, who lives in us, helps and strengthens us, even when it seems there is not fight left in us. Our opponent may believe he’s bigger, yet we are overcomers because of our faith.
pg. 103, Spirit-Led Heart
We can make plans and and that is good. We can get counsel and that is so wise. Yet, one of the most powerful steps we can take is to stop trying to fight the battle in our own strength.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
We are worth fighting for.
Jesus made that clear on the cross. God made that clear when he sent his son. The Holy Spirit makes that clear when he hears our cry for help and intercedes on our behalf. We may feel weak, but strength comes from faith that is grounded, deeply-rooted, and secure.
[bctt tweet=”You are worth fighting for. When we realize that, the battle shifts to include a God who loves us like crazy. #livingfreetogether https://wp.me/p4jbdw-4Gz” username=”suzanneeller”]
As you make your plan, invite God into the midst of those plans. As you battle, don’t try to do it on your own. Let the one who loves you lead the way.
That’s where our freedom begins, no matter what our battle looks like.
Suzie
3 ways to know if something has more of you than you want it to.
1. You keep creating “plans” that don’t work.
2. It robs you of thought, time, and energy and gives little value in return, but you still do it.
3. People who love you try to tell you that it’s addicting, unhealthy, or consuming you or damaging a relationship, but you make excuses or defend it.
Q: We hate it when people lie to us, but sometimes we aren’t honest with ourselves. What is the power of being honest with ourselves when we are struggling?
Related Resource
The Spirit-Led Heart: Living a Life of Love and Faith Without Borders (<– to download Chapter One and other helpful resources)
Fighting a battle and need a breakthrough with my cintract job becoming my permanent job. Also, the past haunting my daugjter and the struggles that continually pull her down. Other loved ones that don’t seem to care. Please pray for me in the midst of these trials. The k you….this insert is exactly what I needed.today. amen
Confused woman and Mother, Lifting you and your daughter up in prayer this morning for wisdom, clarity and peace and also that you feel God’s grace, mercy and love surrounding you today! Lord, open the eyes of this precious woman’s loved ones and guide them to be more caring and compassionate. In Jesus name, Amen.
Good morning Suzie!! I love this!! A few years back, when I was in a MLM business, my husband and I went out to dinner. Throughout dinner I answered texts and was very distracted. When we left the restaurant my husband turned to me and asked “Were those texts more important than spending time with me?” OUCH!! Absolutely not! I have deletes mail, messenger and many other apps from my phone-I use it to phone, text and when I am in the car, waiting for my husband, as he runs an errand, I will check FB. No longer does it come into the reataurant with me, it’s not on the dinner table and sometimes, when home, I actually miss a call or two and a text. Guess what?
The world keeps revolving, There is nothing more important, besides my relationship with Jesus, than the person right in front of me. Nothing!! That person in front of me needs to know they have value and I am present in our time together.
Thanks for such a wise post! Just last night I had a small a-ha moment about my tablet. I need to get back to morning exercise, but to do that, I need to be in bed early. I’m noticing that I might go to bed at a reasonable time but then fritter away an hour or more on the tablet, spending rest time on unimportant things that are not in line with my goal of improving my fitness. I will join you in the quest to dominate my tech, set a cut-off time for my reading & stick to it 👍 Thanks for giving me a push 😉
this has really hit home for me. I get up early enough for exercise, devotion and work each morning. But I reach for my phone and 90 minutes later I’m jumping out of bed after having read news sites, Instagram post, FaceBook and personal email. Sometimes clicking on the link to shop which has drawn me deeper into debt. It’s a true vice and addiction, I have been getting to work late because I spend my morning on my phone and then sometimes only put it down because I’m still in my pajamas when I should be in my car on my way to work. It has become insidious and I’m not engaging with others. I knew I had a problem when I was scrolling through Facebook and Instagram and reading news sites during church and Bible Study…..
our sweet Daughter who works in a touring ministry sharing faith struggled through the fourth Semester of College. So i asked for a Family meeting. We decided she needed Give up her Game boy, to look for a job, and while she waited we stipulated she needed to do volunteer work. I hid the Game boy, She contacted the coordinator @ Sameritans purse international facility near our house and started going 2 days a week. She got a job in a few weeks & i could see & hear her joy again
when it was time for school to start Last week She Asked for the Game boy back & i said no. it was a hard Day. standing your ground when confronted by a hormone driven frustrated 20 year old is not for the faint at heart. I prayed for God to move her heart, i prayed for my resolve. the Next Day we were back to normal. Yesterday she went to her college classes, went to work, and to practice. we talked about the Gameboy. She decided it was the right choice. She understands addiction. She has studied Game theory and written papers on it. she knows i limit my game apps and delete them almost as fast as i try them. i stick with Spelling, or brain game but if it requires more than 5 rounds its gotta go. i even delete the Faith driven Apps, i limit the number of woman of faith i follow. im maxed out right now so i have a tendancy to scan & encourage quickly & put on a sermon instead so i can get stuff done.