Patterns

I have not been sure of what to write for a few weeks.
Like my imaginative fountain just dried up.

I Googled some great info on the moon, gravity, the sun and how they all influence the tide.
Although amazed at how awesome God made the world, I didn't feel captivated by the topic.
It wasn't heartfelt.

I started a new job last month, and the change in pattern overwhelmed me so much.
I didn't realize the amount of rushing, planning and meeting required.

I am so used to the patterns I have created in the past, that for the first two weeks I wasn't able to keep much food down and my tummy felt like a ball of nerves.
Luckily I am sort-of settled in.

The end of last year (2014), I started a pattern of having a few minutes with God daily.
These minutes soon became hours and I felt His love, grace and guidance with me daily.

Since beginning the new job, I have fallen out of this pattern.
I am not sure whether it is because the new job is less frustrating , that I pray less.
Perhaps I have just become lazy and given up.

This is however not right, it is definitely not being faithful.
Giving up my relationship with God when things get easier is so flaky and not very Christ-like.

I have noticed the difference being disconnected with God has made on my relationships.

As hard as I try, I cannot reflect Christ when I am not plugged into Him.
If I am distant from Him, I allow myself to be of this world because I cannot discern the difference between wrong and right as accurately.

This has made me re-evaluate my patterns, the ones I create that separate me from serving God the way I am meant to as well as look at what it is that I allow into my heart.

Our church elder mentioned this the other day:

Rat Poison is made to taste, smell and look like food, so to attract the rat.
Only after eating and digesting the poison does the rat realize that they have been poisoned.

How easy is it to see life in music, books and sermons etc. without knowing that it may be poisonous for us.
Often it is the well displayed efforts that are the most deceptive because we don't see the flaws in the message.

What are you allowing into your heart/ mind that is distracting you from your relationship with God?
What patterns have you created that don't allow time for Prayer and Fellowship?