The power of Distractions

I went on the road one day and while passing this store, I remembered there was something I needed to get inside. While opening my purse to check if I had my card, I heard some coins fall. Instinctively, I looked in the direction of the sound and stooped to pick up my coins. As I was about to walk off, a man that was ahead of me pointed behind me. I turned around and there on the ground was $700, which had also fallen out of my purse. I thanked the man, picked up my money, and entered the store in a reflective mood. Had that man not been there, I would have lost $700 (~ $5US) because I was distracted by the sound of $30 (~ 25c USD). As I reflected, I realized that distractions are so powerful.

Distractions steal our attention

A story that I often have mixed feelings about is that of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus went to visit the home of Mary and Martha. Martha, being a good hostess, went to ensure that everything was prepared. Her sister on the other hand, chose to sit at Jesus’ feet. While there, Martha became concerned that she was the only one working and complained to Jesus. Jesus replied and said “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This gentle rebuke was meant to cause Martha to reflect. Although the hospitality role is important, what is more important is being taught by Jesus. We can be distracted by doing something important and miss something more important.

Distractions cause delay

We live in a world where everything is present at our fingertips. Staying focused requires a lot of mental energy.  Our phones are always buzzing and there is always something to scroll, swipe or see. One of the consequences of this is that we sometimes don’t move when we ought to move. It was Joyce Meyer who said, “the enemy doesn’t care about what you start, he cares only about what you finish.” The distractions come so that you get delayed and don’t finish.  Consequently, you may remain stuck in a season for longer than you should be. You may also miss opportunities and breakthroughs, or your impact may be reduced.

Distractions lead to disobedience

The enemy knows that your obedience is a threat to him. When he can’t tempt you to yield to sin, he will use distractions to lead to your disobedience. Samson was a powerful man with great strength. The Lord had predestined Samson to save the Israelites from the Philistines. While fulfilling this mandate, Samson got distracted and fell in love with a Philistine woman, Delilah. Delilah was given a mandate to find out the source of Samson’s strength. After asking him three times, he finally disobeyed God and told her the source of his strength was his hair. As a result, she shaved his head which caused him to lose his strength and he got captured by the Philistines .

If God has given us a mandate, it is our responsibility to focus wholeheartedly. Because of this, we have to remember what we are doing and why we are doing it. Obedience to God is important to Him. Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

Distractions can be good things

As Christians, identifying and fulfilling our purpose is a high priority. It is often when we are on the cusp of identifying or fulfilling our life’s purpose, that we get distracted. We are suddenly offered a promotion at the job we were about to leave with all the perks we ever wanted. Sometimes, we suddenly meet this amazing person and start a new relationship, spending hours on the phone. Other times, we are offered various great opportunities that seem to have come to make our lives better. These things often are so good and appear to be the answer to our prayers, that we don’t even realize they are distractions. Because of this, we can be doing fruitful things but if they aren’t aligned with the will of God for our lives, we might be wasting time. Do not let good things keep you from doing the right, God-ordained things.

How can we overcome distractions?

1. Identify your distractions

To overcome, we first have to identify what distracts us. Is it Netflix? The phone? Laziness? Busyness? If you don’t know what it is, spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what are your distractions.

2. Eliminate your distractions

Once you have identified your distractions, take steps to eliminate them. For example, if your phone is distracting you from reading your bible, turn it off until you are finished. If your bible is on your phone, turn off your notifications or use a physical bible. Do what you need to do to stay focused during your reading time.

3. Create a to-do list

To-do lists can help you to keep on task. You can list everything that needs to be done and break them down into smaller tasks. Once you create your list, focus and complete these individual tasks until all your tasks are completed.

4. Learn how to say no

Sometimes distractions come in the form of tasks. These tasks keep us busy so that we can’t focus on the things we should. While we ought to help and offer assistance, we have to know when to say no.

5. Monitor your thoughts

Many of the distractions we face start in the mind. Sometimes it is the negative thoughts that we have that lead to stress, anxiety and depression and keep us unproductive. These negative thoughts steal our focus and hinder us from moving how God wants us to. Therefore, you have to ensure that the thoughts you have towards yourself are good.

6. Stay alert

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The one who usually receives the greatest benefit from our distraction is the enemy. The Lord knew this, so he cautioned us. One of the main ways to stay alert is to stay in His Word. It is no coincidence that we often get distracted when reading the Word because we get our knowledge, strength, and power from it. The more we read, the more we grow. The more we grow, the more alert we become. Stay in the word.

In this season, we need to avoid distractions because the Kingdom of God is at hand. The tasks that God has given you to complete, can only be completed by you. My prayer today is that we will all be able to overcome distractions and walk in the life that God has for us.