Living While Distracted - Marlo M. Afflalo

Living While Distracted (eBook)

Distracted Living Kills... Choose Life

Marlo M. Afflalo (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2023 | 1. Auflage
124 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-2323-0 (ISBN)

Distracted living kills... literally and figuratively. A life-saving mindset shift can save you if you choose the path God has already outlined for you. Indeed, Jesus the Christ has made a way out for you as you forego the turmoil of unfocused existence and fully embrace the spiritual gifts awaiting you. Author Marlo M. Afflalo helps point the way in her life-saving book, 'Living While Distracted.'

Have you simply lost your way? Is feeling unseen and unheard keeping you awake at night-- tossing and turning because your worth is not being validated, and in fear of not becoming the man or woman of your dreams? Do you feel like you should be doing more to impact your family and community for God? Do you have a numbing fear of what will happen if you continue living an unfulfilled life? Even worse, are you haunted by the nagging fear of what might happen if you actually follow your dreams and accomplish the vision of who you could be--the vision God has shown you of how He sees you?You're not alone. Amidst all the constant, noisy distractions, we all need the True Anchor. In this revelatory moment, it's okay to admit that you need a true and trusted Guide and Savior not only to save you from the current murky troubled waters of daily life, but to ensure you never have to entertain and endure the intrusive madness that has taken you so far off course. God has a plan and a purpose for your life. Christians walking in their purpose increase God's presence here on earth and build the Kingdom of God. The Bible says that when God's people are operating inside His will for their life, He is with them and everything they put their hands to will prosper. A mind-shift is essential. Somewhere deep inside you, you know that. Until you can identify and do away with those unhealthy distractions, you will not live in your purpose and be able to benefit those awaiting your divine gift. In this powerful new book, "e;Living While Distracted,"e; author Marlo M. Afflalo shares proven strategies God has outlined in His Word for Christians to choose life and walk successfully in their purpose: focused, fulfilled, and fruitful. Turn the pages now and begin to truly breathe as your new, fruitful life journey begins and coincides with God's divine purpose for you!

LiViNG

In Genesis 5 and 6, Moses introduces the genealogy of Adam. Of Enoch he states, “and Enoch walked with God;” In Genesis 6:9 he states, “Noah walked with God”. Then, in Genesis 6:3 the Lord says, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed, flesh; yet His days shall be 120 years.”

This word, walked, “possessed connotations of the habitual manner of life for a constant relationship with God. That’s the word that describes Noah and Enoch and other people of faith as living in a close relationship with their God, and in obedience to his commands.” Reference Tecarta Study Bible, New King James version.

DAY-TO-DAY LIFE

God uses ordinary people to do His work of accomplishing extraordinary things. In living our everyday lives, God wants us to walk with Him. He wants to be the mighty force within us that is always proclaiming Christ and Him crucified with our lives and our actions, not only our words. He has chosen people to reach other people to build the Kingdom of God.

He longs to be in constant communication and fellowship with us. That is why we are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 3:17) so that we are always ready to be used by Him.

Let’s look at some ordinary people who were just living their lives and God gave them an assignment: Joseph, Hannah, and Peter.

◇Who were they?

◇How were they known?

◇How did God use them?

◇What was the result?

JOSEPH

Joseph was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 35:23 and Genesis 39ff).

◆Known as: a slave

◆His task: to save his family Israel, the 12 tribes. “The Lord was with Joseph.” (Genesis 39:2-3)

What started as a lie, Jacob and his mother tricking Esau out of his birthright and blessings from Isaac, ended in saving Israel. This is recorded in Genesis 27. Joseph, the son of Jacob was called by God as a young boy to lead Israel and his older brothers. They despised him and did as their father did: they lied and tried to trick their way back into their father’s heart by plotting to get rid of their younger brother, the favorite child.

The deception caused Joseph to be sold into slavery. He was taken to Egypt, a foreign land, to live his entire adult life as a slave. It was a position in life that could have been grueling at best. It was a miserable life and existence.

But…God! The Lord was with Joseph, and that made all the difference. Joseph remained obedient to his Jewish upbringing, and he remained faithful to God and obedient to His will. The Lord was with Joseph in Egypt while he was in slavery. And the Lord caused everything Joseph did to prosper. This prosperity spilled over and blessed Joseph’s master, the master’s house, family, prisoners, possessions, land, and country, all because of the master’s proximity to Joseph and Joseph’s proximity and obedience to the Lord.

THE RESULT: The ultimate outcome extended from protecting Egypt and foreigners during the famine to saving his own family, the 12 tribes of Israel. Protecting the lineage of Christ, Savior of the world.

In Genesis 50:20 Joseph tells his 11 brothers “but as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about, as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

HANNAH

◆Hannah was the barren wife of Elkanah

◆Known as: a housewife

◆Her task: to be mother of Samuel

In I Samuel 1 – Hannah’s prayer for a child was answered.

Sometimes it’s not who we are, but the one or ones we raise, mentor, promote, protect, and prepare for the future that fulfills our purpose. And it’s always in God’s timing, not ours.

Take Hannah for example, one of two wives of Elkanah, a devout man, who made yearly sacrifices to the Lord at Shiloh. Elkanah had many children with his wife Peninnah, but none with Hannah. Not having children in those times was looked upon as a curse, because after all, it was known that “the fruit of the womb is an Heritage onto the Lord” (Psalm 127:3); therefore, anyone without—specifically, any woman without children was looked down on. Naturally, Hannah was very distressed by this, and Elkanah tried to show that he loved her no matter what. And Peninnah mocked her for it.

Hannah prayed to God often for many years to give her a child. She even told God that if He gave her a child, she would give the child back to Him for ministry. All during this time, neither Hannah, Elkanah, nor Peninnah knew that “God closed her womb”. [I Samuel 1:5] They were only looking at the circumstances, what they could see. However, Hannah wanted a child desperately. It’s almost as if she knew she was supposed to have a child. It wasn’t until she realized that her desire to have a child for all the “regular” reasons was no longer paramount. Her prayers changed once she realized it was more important to want a child that she would sacrifice to the Lord. Her petition to the Lord was no longer for herself or for her own fulfillment; instead, it was to further the Kingdom of God. That is when her prayer was answered.

THE RESULT came in two phases. In the first phase of God’s answer, He gave Hannah a child. The Lord heard her prayer and remembered her and opened her womb when she was with her husband.

The second phase of God’s answer to her prayer came many, many years later. Hannah may not have even been alive. It is when Samuel interceded on behalf of God’s people, Israel, to save them from the Philistines and recover the ark of the covenant. By preserving God’s people, the lineage of Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world through whom man would be reconciled to God—was also preserved.

Everything happens in God’s timing. When we are walking closely with God, we flow in His timing. Prayer, praise, worship, and reading God’s Word are how we stay close and connected to God. I don’t want to make it seem like magic because it’s not. It’s operating, living, moving, and having our being in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t just change things, circumstances, consequences, etc., it changes our perspective of those things, and ushers us to a higher level of insight on what really matters to God, and how to be partakers of those things.

PETER

◆Peter was a fisherman

◆Known as: the one who denied Christ

◆His task: to be an apostle, leader of the early church, and a writer of two New Testament letters

Reading about Peter in the Bible from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts, it’s easy to see the evolution of his faith walk. He immediately follows Jesus Christ when he heard Jesus say “Come, follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men”. (Mark 1:14-20)

He was able to go with Jesus to the mount of transfiguration where he saw Elijah and Moses. Then, because he knew who Jesus was, he swore that he would never deny Him. However, we find out that he denied Christ three times…for which he was greatly remorseful. When Jesus was resurrected, He told those at the tomb to go and tell the disciples and Peter.

Wholeheartedly obeying God does not equal perfection. It does mean relentless, persistent pursuit of Christ. God knows that we will stumble, make mistakes, overpromise, and under deliver. And He knows that we can learn and grow from our mistakes. Our Lord is a loving and forgiving Father Who is long-suffering. He has called us each to a purpose and has empowered us by the Holy Spirit to complete and fulfill that purpose. When we are obedient to our calling, God will use us.

I believe that it was no accident that Jesus discussed forgiveness with Peter in Matthew 18:21-22, and then told the parable of the unforgiving servant. Jesus shared the heart of God: God is a forgiver. When we repent, He forgives. Peter lived this out. He denied Christ three times…but God forgave him and used him mightily to establish and grow the early church, preaching repentance, salvation, and baptism.

THE RESULT: Peter established and grew the early church. Over 2,000 years later, the gospel of Jesus Christ is still being preached around the world. God is still using people to reach other people to build the Kingdom of...

Erscheint lt. Verlag	24.10.2023
Sprache	englisch
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
ISBN-13	979-8-3509-2323-0 / 9798350923230

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