#20 Moving from Distractions to Devotion: A Personal Journey Towards Spiritual Growth

Ever been so caught up in daily life that you feel like you're running from God? I've been there, and in this episode, I share my personal journey of overcoming distractions that deterred me from focusing on my spiritual growth. You'll hear how I went from running from God to embracing His purpose in my life. Through my experiences, I hope to provide a relatable narrative and thought-provoking prayer sessions to inspire you to surrender, stop running and partner with God for great achievements.

Besides, I'll share some practical tips on creating a successful quiet time with God. Remember how setting aside intentional time, choosing a place, and limiting distractions can transform your spiritual journey? Well, I will walk you through it using my personal experiences. I promise you, it's not as difficult as it may seem. This episode also includes my experiences of leading a Bible study, dealing with interruptions, and navigating distractions. Plus, as a bonus, I have a free 20-minute coaching session offer waiting for you on my website. So, tune in and let's grow spiritually together.

And don't just listen—join the No More Running email list and share your thoughts with a podcast review!

Join the newly added No More Running Facebook group. 

Would you like to do some one-one Coaching with Crystal? You can go to www.crystalloyd.com and click on coaching and connect with her on No More Running Facebook and Instagram @crystalloyd2

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:06

Have you ever found yourself running? Running mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially and even running physically from things in this life. This is no More Running the podcast for women. Hello, I'm your host, crystal Lloyd, and I've been known to run and still find myself running from the things in this life. Running from God, His calling, his purpose for my life. Running from change that's within my control, that needs to be made, or any type of change. Running from hard or even good or even just simple little things in this life. And God said to me Crystal, if you will stop running and surrender, there are things that we can accomplish together. Maybe you find yourself running as I have. I want you to know that you're not alone. Let's go from running to normal running together.

Speaker 1: 0:59

Let's get started with prayer, holy Spirit, we invite you to be a part of the podcast, the lessons, the life coaching and the sharing of our stories. Let it be known today that you are God. God, help us to go from running in this life, from whatever it may be that we're running from, from running to no more running. In Jesus' name, welcome. I'm your host, crystal Lloyd, and I'm here to help you go from running to no more running. And I'm a runner Nope, not an actual physical runner who runs at 5K or marathon or even runs for fun. Honestly, I get winded just walking around the block. But I've been known to run and still find myself running from the things in this life running from good things, bad things, running from God and His calling and His purpose for my life, running from change that's within my control, that needs to be made, or any type of change. Running from hard or even simple little things in this life. Maybe you find yourself running from these things as well, and I want you to know that you're not alone. Let's pray as we get started here. First, we want to invite the Holy Spirit to be a part. Holy Spirit, come in and be a part of this podcast and the lessons that we share and be a part of the life coaching that I offer within, whether it's one on one coaching or group coaching. Holy Spirit, we want you to be a part of that and show your favor upon the podcast and those that listen as well and help us to go from running to no more running. And second, let's pray today. Let it be known today that you are God through this podcast, through the lessons, through the life coaching. And God, help us again to go from running in this life, whatever it may be that we are running from. Help us to go from running to no more running. In Jesus' name, I'm your host, crystal Lloyd. How determined are you to spend time with God?

Speaker 1: 3:29

On today's podcast, we're going to be talking about distractions and interruptions. I'm going to share with you on how I had a few distractions, interruptions trying to read God's Word, studying and praying. So I'm leading the study of Jonah, navigating a life interrupted by Purcell-Eshevour in my home. If you haven't done the study, I highly recommend it. It's great. I relate to Jonah so much.

Speaker 1: 4:02

So go to the front porch and get my Bible out, get my study book out so I'll start to read my Bible, start to read my study, and then there's a nest of bees that make me nervous on my front porch. I'm not a fan, so I asked my wonderful husband to take care of those bees so that I can sit on the front porch, so I can have my quiet time. Well, he does, and I started to study and read. Then one bee is near me, and then another bee, and then another. I've been stung too many times as a child and as an adult. And I witnessed my son and his friend, when they were younger, get in a nest of bees accidentally and get attacked and stung by many bees. So I come in to get away from the bees. So I'm making a new plan.

Speaker 1: 5:01

I get my big, comfy camping chair from the garage. I do have outside chairs, but they're gross. I didn't want to have to clean them because I'd already cleaned burb poo off the rocking chair on the front porch. So I sit up on the back deck and now I have my feet laid up over the deck. It's not too hot, it's not too cold, there's a nice breeze, the beautiful view of the Great Smoky Mountains. Oh, how I love this weather. It's starting to feel like fall. It's in the air in East Tennessee. Okay, so focus, crystal Focus.

Speaker 1: 5:41

So I get my pappal out, I get my study out, and then I think why didn't I sit up here in the first place? So I started reading, started studying again, really enjoying my quiet time with the Lord. Well, guess what? It started to sprinkle. I can hear thunder now. And then I remember what the weatherman says If you can hear thunder, then you're close enough to get struck by lightning. This is what's going on in my head. I'm fine, it's fine, it's East Tennessee, it does this. Well, it doesn't. It doesn't pass. So I bring my nice comfy camping chair inside because I don't want it to get ruined like the other furniture. And then I thought I'll try my front porch again. There still bees out there. I try not to focus on them. I'm good, get my pappal back out, get my study back out.

Speaker 1: 6:47

Then it starts to rain, heavier and heavier. By this time it's coming in on me. I go back inside again. I'll try the bedroom, because the guys are watching and move in the living room and I'm trying to be alone. I'm trying to read my Bible, I'm trying to do my study and guess what? Someone comes in the bedroom, interruption after interruption, distraction after distraction, and then I start to turn into a she-hulk. God, I'm trying here. I'm trying to become faith strong.

Speaker 1: 7:31

You know what the sermon was about. This morning, lord, I finally got my alone time with God. Honestly, I almost just gave up and said never mind, it's just not meant to be today. Maybe tomorrow it will work out better for me to read my Bible, study and pray. But I decided I wasn't giving up or running just because it wasn't perfect or because it wasn't easy or everything wasn't just right.

Speaker 1: 8:02

I want to tell you a little something about myself. I'm a perfectionist. I don't do well when things don't go just right the way I feel like they should go, you know perfect. But I was determined and now I'm so glad that I didn't give up. I did get my quiet time with the Lord. I did get to read God's word and oh how I love God's word and the truth of it and just to be in the presence of God. You know, god's word is like the meat of the meal, the best part, like the steak or the chicken. I just love God's word and I adore God and His word. Once I do this, once I get my quiet time, I'm better. I'm better spiritually, I'm better mentally, emotionally.

Speaker 1: 9:03

Remember the question that I asked at the beginning of the podcast how determined are you to spend time with God? Do you let a little distractions or some interruptions get in the way of reading and studying and praying, or just say, never mind, I'll give up, I'm done. This is crazy. It's just not going to work out today. The truth is, there will always be something to distract you and keep in mind when you try to spend time along with God. The enemy will do whatever to try and distract you from doing that. His goal is to still kill and destroy. John 1010 tells us this. He will do whatever to keep you from spending time with God. Distractions is a scheme of the devil to keep us from succeeding at doing what God wants us to do. Don't let distractions derail you. I encourage you not to give up, no matter what distractions or interruptions come your way, even if you have to stop and then start again, and then stop and start again. Refuse to give up on spending time with God. Don't let that time go. Decide in your heart that I'm spending time with God, no matter what comes my way, no matter what distractions and no matter what interruptions. Refuse to give up. Here's a few things to try. Of course, this may not work for everyone.

Speaker 1: 10:46

Number one set a time. I should have set a time. Maybe it would have worked out better if I'd set it and done it in the morning or maybe even in the evening, and I used to have to do this when my kids were little, after they would go to bed when the house is nice and quiet. The reason to do this is because if we don't, we think we'll find time. You know that free time to spend with God, but that may never come.

Speaker 1: 11:18

Number two set a place. I was all over the place. Looking back now, if I had started out in the bedroom, I wouldn't have to go from place to place and then finally the bedroom. Yes, I probably would have had some distractions, because Satan has to show his little ugly head, but maybe not so many. Number three limit the distractions. Let's take my distractions. For example, if you don't like bees, then maybe outside is not a good place to do your quiet time with God. Again, looking back, I should have checked the weather for the current conditions. If I was going to be outside and if I had already set the time and the place, maybe there wouldn't have been so many distractions or interruptions.

Speaker 1: 12:17

I share this so that someone can learn from my mistakes. Yes, it did work out in the end. I did get my quiet time with the Lord, I got to read, I got to do my study and pray, but it could have gone much smoother. Of course. Keep in mind that nothing is ever perfect, and I have to tell myself this all the time, crystal, nothing is ever perfect, or even sometimes it may not go as planned, but remember, failure to plan is planning to fail. Let me say that again Failure to plan is planning to fail. Did you know that I'm a life coach, and if you're interested in coaching with me and want to learn more, run on over to my website, crystalloycom, and sign up for a free 20 minute coaching session with me, and don't forget to join my email list. You can email me at info at crystalloycom and tell me hey, sign me up for that email list, and I would love to hear your running story as well, one way to help you go from running to know more running.