Every Sunday, I get up earlier than my entire family and make my way to the church to prepare for the day. This past weekend, from the moment I woke up, my mind just felt foggy. My thoughts were everywhere and I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around the ministry responsibilities of the day. After fumbling around I walked outside to realize the weather was mirroring my own personal feelings. That southern humidity filled the air as my sweat glands began to work overtime. As soon as I got in my car, I realized I could not see out any of my windows as they were all fogged up. I rolled the side windows down as well as using the front and back wipers in an attempt to clear things up. As I began driving through my neighborhood my windows continued to fog up quicker than I could clear them. I needed to use heat to clear them but the heat was causing me to sweat even more. It was just a constant battle of mental and literal fog. I immediately felt the Holy Spirit speak to me asking, “What’s fogging your windows?“ I knew there was a spiritual implication so I began soul searching in an attempt to rectify the issue. As I reflected over the prior days, I realized they had been filled to overflowing with menial issues that seemed to need my attention. Unfortunately, I had allowed the busyness of the prior days to take priority and steal my personal time with the Lord. I realized I hadn’t sat down for a genuine time of prayer in a few days. It wasn’t an intentional move on my part, but it had led to the fog I was experiencing.
Busyness is NOT a spiritual gift. Truthfully, I hurts us more than it helps us. It’s like the dog who chases his tail constantly. He’s attempting to accomplish something he sees as important when the casual onlooker knows it’s a waste of time. The dog places such importance on a menial task. For the believer, personal time with our Heavenly Father can’t be optional. Without it we are left feeling foggy and, lost, and confused. His presence is what gives us direction, clarity, and the soundness of mind to walk the road He has placed before us. Whatever we allow to consume our minds is going to be the very thing that controls our actions and reactions. The book of Isaiah reminds us in chapter 26, verse 3, “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” Fog isn’t a happenstance or a mistake. It’s a tactic used by the enemy to prevent us from seeing the reality of the things around us. Fog diverts our attention and leaves us feeling helpless. If he can confuse us, he can control us.
Closing remarks and encouragement: What’s fogging our windows today? What do we need to get rid of in our lives? Purpose to clean out the clutter. Clutter can come in the form of television, unhealthy relationships, extra-curricular activities……basically anything we put before our relationship with God. Let’s do a little spring cleaning!
Have a blessed week, my friends!