It’s January and time for the annual fast at church. I’m not going to lie, this year feels uncomfortable, like a war, and I’m not winning! The comforts of my everyday life have created a sluggish heart within me. So, this year I didn’t just give up candy bars, I went after my comfort habits, social media, YouTube, podcasts, phone games, even TV. These are Comfort Cloggers, which make me sleepy and spiritually lazy, blocking the flow of God.
Comfort seems like a good thing, yet it is the enemy of spiritual sharpness. In America, we are materially rich. Comfort abounds, calling to help us navigate daily life. Whether it’s food or convenience or entertainment, Comfort Cloggers call and we answer.
Comfort Just Grows on You
Many in my generation set the goal on building careers and upward mobility. As our wealth increased, so did the ease of life. Suddenly, at the end of the month, we found ourselves with more money in the bank account than we actually needed.
And here is where life grows large and wide. The grocery store budget becomes obsolete when there is enough money to buy what you want, instead of what you need. No more worries at the gas station; Now you pull up, fill up the tank and go on your way. Vacation becomes more about exciting trips, and college for our children becomes a reality, as we train them up to repeat the pattern.
As bank accounts grow, everything becomes bigger and better. We get bigger and better cars and houses, name brand purses and custom-cut suits. We trade McDonalds for fine dining and eat out whenever we want.
We go to shows, theatres, and theme parks, all while enjoying our Starbucks every morning. Life in America can be very comfortable. But these things can become Comfort Cloggers blocking the flow of God’s presence in our life.
Wait is Wealth Bad?
The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 10:22 ESV
I’m not against material blessings in life. Wealth according to the scripture is a blessing from God. But our hearts are never satisfied in this life. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, there is always someone richer and more comfortable. As we keep pressing to climb higher on the ladder, our hearts become out of focus and obstructed by abundance. We need God, nor more and more.
“Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
|Matthew 19:24 TLV
– Jesus speaking.
This worries me, since as a believer, I know I will need to get through the eye of the needle. Large and wide won’t cut it for me. The Comfort Cloggers must go, so I can be lean in the spirit, and hungry for the presence of God.
The Danger of Comfort Cloggers Blocking the Flow
Comfort cloggers choke our spiritual arteries, so our hearts no longer pump with the concerns and longings of our Heavenly Father. Rather, we pump and flow with the desires and longings of our own flesh and distractions of this age.
Ouch!
Comfort Cloggers deaden our spiritual senses to hear God. When I am so stuffed by my own appetites, I become unaware that I am blind, naked and poor.
For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,”
not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Revelation 3:17 ESV
Comfort confuses our purpose in life. It woos me into a drowsy state, and I lose focus on the call of God in my life. I pass my days with pleasurable things – perhaps not evil, just pleasurable. My eyes become misdirected and suddenly enjoyment becomes my purpose, and I have missed the mark.
I feel like Paul – Oh, what a wretched being am I!
Comfort can harden our hearts, much like hardening of the arteries! I see misery all around on news and videos and yet my heart can be so cold and stony. If I do feel that momentary grief, it’s easy to pacify the feeling with food, TV, social media, or shopping. The heart of God is calling me to pray and fast and love, yet I ignore His call and close my eyes.
I need God to give me a heart of flesh and renew a right spirit within me.
Come and Close Your Eyes
You see, Comfort Cloggers woo us into a lovely sleep – much like the 10 Virgins. Things are so dark and rough in the world right now. It’s natural to want to close it all out with distraction.
But God is supernatural and calls us to be the same. These Comfort Cloggers must go! They are blocking the flow of God in my life.
Remember the story of the 10 Virgins of Matthew 25. The night was long as they waited for the Bridegroom to come. In the dark, all ten fell asleep.
When the call came that the Bridegroom was fast approaching, they woke, rose and trimmed their lamps. However, some did not have enough oil to light their lamps, and those that had enough could not share.
You see, the oil was time spent developing the presence of God in their life. It was time being still and time focused on relationship with God.
When my eyes are looking to the Comfort Cloggers to give me meaning and purpose, my oil will spoil and dry up, because I chose comfort over time with God.
In this hour it’s most important to shine for the Bridegroom, I can’t neglect my quiet time and be found empty.
The Ultimate Comfort
Make Room – First and foremost, as Believers, we are not alone. Jesus sent us someone to be with us forever. He is the ultimate Comforter – the Holy Spirit.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:16 KJV
– Jesus Speaking
I must fight to make room for quiet time with the Lord, reading the Word and praying and listening. It is the Holy Spirit who makes that fellowship even possible for me. He is the presence of the Living God. He is the oil in my lamp.
To make room for one thing, I must get rid of another.
24 Then Yeshua told His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me,
he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25 TLV
Clearing the Clog
The fight to recover a deeper relationship with God, must involve denying myself. Whatever is blocking the flow of God in my life, must go.
Fasting Food – When I deny myself food, I become more sensitive to God and hear His voice. When I feel hungry for food, if I shift and instead reach for Jesus, the Bread of Life, I will be filled to overflowing.
Fasting Comfort – Cutting out social media, news, opinion podcasts, and movies, frees up my attention to focus on relationships and God. You don’t realize how addicted and distracted you are until you fast these Comfort Cloggers.
Unclog the Environment – Free yourself up! Give things away and not just the leftovers. Give things, give money, give time listening, give love, and serve other people. The need for love abounds, find a way to consistently give and shine the Light of Jesus. Then you will find meaning in your life better than anything comfort has to offer.
Jesus told the rich young ruler, to go and sell everything he had, then give the money to the poor and come back and follow Him. We are not all called to this, but we are called to follow Jesus.
To follow Jesus well, the Comfort Cloggers in my life must go.
Wish me luck!