The obstacles that keep us from knowing God
The obstacles that keep us from knowing God are our own thoughts. It’s not about anything external to our minds. There is nothing in the world that is preventing you, me, or anyone else from drawing close to Him. Philosophies, lifestyles, desires, beliefs, all of these things and others that may hinder a person from accepting the love of God and His wonderful gifts are all products of our thoughts.
If anything outside of ourselves was preventing us from a strong and growing relationship with God then everyone who encounters difficult circumstances would be unable to be close to Him. Instead, we see people in all types of suffering, adversity, and even persecution loving the Lord. No, there is no external obstacle to being a Jesus follower. It is literally all in our minds.
But, and here’s the key, our hearts direct our minds. We are creatures of passions, emotions, and feelings, and until we give God authority to be sovereign over our passions and emotions, no matter how we feel, we cannot truly grow in Him. Let me say it this way. Our feelings get in the way of us being who God has called us to be…because we let our feelings control our thoughts. And our thoughts control our actions.
When we step back from our feelings, when we give them to God and let Him be in control instead of (and in spite of) them, at that point, the obstacles in our minds disappear. And then the Lord can grow us into His powerful Kingdom servants. So don’t let your feelings rule your life, if you do, they will ruin it. Give your feelings to the Lord, and enjoy the joy and freedom of giving Him control instead.
Troy Stoneking is a Jesus follower helping others recover the joy of the Lord in their life. Information Technology leader with extensive experience in team building, training, coaching, sales, and customer service in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA.
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