Avoid

Defined by Oxford as “to keep away from or stop oneself from doing.” Merriam-Webster concurs, ” to prevent the occurence or effectiveness of, to refrain from.”

What is it that you avoid? What things do I avoid?

A quick internet search offered these things to avoid:

• bad company
• unhealthy food
• fake friends
• wasting time
• abusive fights
• smoking weed/weeds/drugs

Actually, a pretty good list, in my opinion. What do you think?

Here’s another great list of things to avoid:

• grabbibg your phone without a goal
• answering messages on the spot
• waiting for others to contact you
• see the negative first
• buying more than you throw a way
• not letting silence in
• and the list continues, but you get the idea

But just for a minute, let’s go micro rather than macro. Micro looks at the small segments, compartments of your life. Lets go there.

In those places, compartments of your life, of your heart, (maybe known only by you and a close friend), what areas are avoided? What rooms are off limits? Which places are are sealed up? Which memories, motives and masks are eluded, evaded and escaped from? What are you avoiding or trying to stop yourself from dealing with?

This morning, in my life, those were the types of questions that were filtering through my mind and heart. What was I avoiding? Was I avoiding anything that needed to be dealt with? Were there issues, items or incidents that needed my attention rather than avoidance?

And here’s the thought bubble, that appeared very cleary over my head and resounded in my heart –

When we avoid God and what He is pointing to in our life,

there is a VOID in our life, and we are left empty, without what we need.

There is so much truth and power in that statement, my friend.

We avoid things in our heart for a miriad of reasons and excuses. No matter the reason, if it is avoided at all, it will indeed leave a void in your heart, that must be filled and healed. If we avoid allowing God into that place (or those places) in our heart, we fill it with things that will never heal it our last. Things like, bitterness, anger, resentment, hatred or even apathy, and isolation, perhaps becoming callous, hard, harsh or cruel. These things fester and inflame all we do. They poison our entire life, outlook, hope and relationships.

It would be wise for us to allow God into those places in our hearts that we have avoided, for He alone can fill the void and heal at the root level any issue we have been avoiding.

Is there a void in your heart that He wants to fill and heal?

Please don’t avoid it.

Cheers to you.

Debbie