Obsessed

“My people are obsessed with turning away from me.” (Hosea 11:7 NET)

Worry displaces trust in God, tormenting faith and consuming peace. The obsessions of our minds dominate our emotions and decisions. God cannot occupy our lives fully when we are preoccupied by other concerns.

“If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives—not concerns, nor tribulation, nor worries. And now we understand why our Lord so emphasized the sin of worrying. How can we dare to be so absolutely unbelieving when God totally surrounds us? To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.” (My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers)

Being consumed with God protects us from the temptation to let every distraction and worrisome thought take over. If our minds are preoccupied with godly messages and people, there is no room for worthless pursuits.  The Spirit of the Lord is with us, but worldly concerns cause us to be undiscerning. Our attentiveness leads to awareness; awareness leads to trust; and trust leads to faith. Thus, surrounding ourselves with positive influences is essential. When our life is saturated with goodness, every direction that we turn, every choice we make, leads to intimacy with God.