What's God Asking you to Give Up?

Hobbies and such aren't bad things, are they? In fact, they're amazing. They help you to get busy, try new things, and get out of the house every once in awhile... and maybe even learn a life skill that you'll need later on in life, whether you know that at the moment or not.

Like say I'm an amazing soccer player. (which I'm not. I'm not even sure I like soccer.) But let's just say that I was. It's OK--even good--to use my God-given talent, right? Why shouldn't I be on the school soccer team? Why shouldn't I play in college? Why shouldn't I go on to be a pro?

Those aren't bad things, right?

No, of course not.

But it can become something bad if it becomes obsessive for you--you're always practicing, always playing, always looking up new techniques... never ceasing. Your whole life is soccer. You're always rushing around, always busy, always preoccupied with thoughts of your beloved sport...

And then, you just put off spending time with God--put off reading, praying, memorizing, and fellowship with other Christians. "I'm busy." "I don't have time." "I'll do it later." Excuses, excuses, excuses. You do know that if you don't catch it now, you probably never will, right? Those things are good, but sometimes they get to be too much.

But how do we know if something's too much? How do we know if we're too busy, busier then God wants us to be?

We've got to be listening to God. We've got to find out what He's asking us to give up.

That doesn't mean that you'll never get to do the things you love anymore. Just maybe... not so much as before. If God's asking you give up something for Him, then you need to do it. If you listen to Him, He will bless you.

Spend time reading, praying, memorizing, and fellowshipping. Live, laugh, and love with God. And ask yourself, "What's God asking me to give up today?"