TRICKLE EFFECT

Sort of a cliche, isn't it?  But the Lord has been showing me this picture lately of what the trickle effect really is.  It can be good or bad.  For example, I just started working out at the gym.  Not only am I now getting in shape, but doing so also makes me want to eat healthier, drink more water, take vitamins.  This is the trickle effect.  Same goes for cleaning.  You decide to tidy up the kitchen or the living room.  Before you know it, you are dusting and vaccuming and washing dishes and your cleaning has evolved from just tidying up to full-blown cleaning.  

This  "trickle effect" can work for bad, too.  For example, you sit down to watch tv.  Just one show.  Then, before you know it, your are in a trance and find yourself wasting the next 4 hours watching the junk on the tube.  The commericals are sexy, alluring.  The shows make you covet all you do not have.  You wish you were taller, thinner, smarter, prettier.  Another example is food.  The other day I got Ella a donut.  She licked all the icing off and handed the donut to me.  I figured I would just take one bite.  Next thing I know, I've polished off the whole donut and continue to eat like crap for the whole day.

The Lord has been using these pictures to show me how easy it is to be distracted from Him, and at the same time how I can use the "trickle effect" to draw closer to Him.  If I get distracted by secular stuff, I find myself listening to inappropriate things, watching inappropriate things, falling away from the Lord.  The bad stuff just "trickles" through my life.   But, if I surround myself with godly people, listen to Christian music, teach my kids Christian values, make church a priority, and immerse myself in God's word, He is right there with me every step of the day.  It is almost like I can't have a moment without Him - and that's just the way I want it.

Thank you Lord for your lessons!