Defeating Distractions with God's Word
Friends, distractions are an everyday occurrence. You know, those things that sneak into our lives and steal our attention away from what really matters – our relationship with God and His plans for us. It's like the enemy's sneaky tool to keep us from reaching our full potential in Christ.
BUT – we have the ultimate weapon in our fight against distractions – The Word of God!
So often we can see our enemy as a great roaring beast (see 1 Peter 5:8); we look for his attacks to be equally monstrous. But more often than not, he doesn’t come out with a loud war cry but sneaky little robberies of our time and attention.
Distractions come in all shapes and sizes, it is everyday busyness that keeps us frazzled – from constant worries about money, children, health, news, to the soul and mind numbing of endless scrolling on our phone or “binging” the latest Netflix series.
In Matthew 13:22 Jesus talks about the seed that falls among thorns – this is so like our worries and diversions; they become the thorns that choke the life out of our ministry, our walk of faith.
But here's the good news: we have the power to overcome distractions and live the life God designed for us. In Philippians 3:13-14, the apostle Paul shares some wisdom: "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Paul reminds us that focusing on Jesus and His purpose for us helps us to stay on track and not get tangled up in distractions.
So, how do we do it? First, let's be real with ourselves. Recognize the distractions that trip us up – whether it's constantly checking our phones, spending more time complaining than praying or getting sucked into comparing ourselves to others. Once we've identified these distractions, we can take action to limit their hold on us.
And that's where God's Word comes in – it's our secret weapon.
Remember how Jesus used Scripture to stand up to Satan's temptations in the wilderness? Well, we can do the same. When distractions try to pull us away from God, we can counter them with the truths we find in the Bible. Reading God's Word daily, meditating on it, and praying for guidance helps us build a strong defense against distractions.
So let me wrap this up with a challenge. I challenge you to make a commitment to put down your distractions and pick up your Bible. Start your days with a dose of God's Word and keep it in your heart throughout the day.
When we feel distracted, let's remind ourselves of 1 Peter 5:8 – that sneaky lion prowling around. Speak the truth over your life and your distractions and TAME THAT LION!
