And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Judges 16:20
In living life, many people do things so routinely that they do not always recognize what is going on around them. Disaster can occur right next to one, but he does not see it because his focus is upon himself and what he needs to do.
It is in times like these that accidents occur because of a loss of attention to the details.
Delilah had deceived Samson in revealing the source of his strength, then cut his hair and betrayed him to the Philistines while he was asleep. When he awoke, he did not realize God had left him, and he was captured.
God’s Spirit and favor are with a believer when the believer is following Him and obeying Him. Although God never leaves a person, He will pull His Spirit back when the person chooses to walk in sin and disobey Him.
This is mainly done through the person not being willing to see or hear what God is saying or doing due to sin in their life. His focus is upon self and the world, rather than God and His kingdom. One may run out ahead of God and leave God behind.
As this occurs, disaster occurs in the person’s life. If the sin is not dealt with, the person begins to fall farther away from God and closer to the world. He becomes numb to God’s Spirit striving to move in his life, until he no longer recognizes that he is no longer with God.
Every believer must stay focused upon God and what He is saying and doing every day, and never let sin reign in their life.
As a believer, God is with you and wants to lead and guide you through this life. Do not allow sin or the things of this world to distract you from following God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
From the moment you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night, seek to know God’s presence in your life. Be aware when you have strayed away from God’s presence and guidance. Run back to God and stay on His path for your life.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s presence in your life; that you will seek to follow God with all of your being; that you will not allow sin to separate you from God’s presence; and that God will never have to lift His hand of favor from your life.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
