Minimizing Distractions

Proverbs 4:25-27 says 25) Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26) Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. 27) Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil (NKJV).

This Scripture speaks well to how we should manage distractions in our lives. As we found in yesterday’s devotional reading, Martha allowed herself to become distracted while serving and in many other things. Her distraction resulted in a missed opportunity to spend time in the presence of the Lord to receive his word and meditate on it. All of us have things in our lives, that when left unchecked, can become distractions and prevent us from giving ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord’s presence and miss the sound of his voice. How many of us can honestly say that we give way more of our attention to posting our business on Social Media sites than we do to spending a moment with God in Prayer and fasting. Are you one of those who says, I don’t put my business on Facebook, I just scroll through and see what everyone else is posting? If we stop and think for a moment, the amount of time we spend on Social Media can be replaced with reading a Scripture on a Bible app or listening to an audible devotional like those found on the YouVersion App. Don’t misunderstand, Social Media can be a huge distraction but, if we are honest, I am sure each of us can identify many other distractions in our lives as well.

Luke 21:34 states but take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. The Believer’s Bible Commentary breaks this verse down stating that Jesus’ disciples should guard against becoming occupied with eating, drinking, and mundane cares that his coming might happen unexpectedly (NKJV).  At some point, we must stop and take a spiritual self-evaluation. What things distract you from hearing and following God’s voice? Are you willing to rearrange something in your life to make time to be in his presence? For any of us, it is easy to see the big things that pose as distractions but what about the small things that are easily overlooked?

I had the habit of waiting to read Scriptures when I got in the bed at the end of the night. I would find myself waking up a few minutes later while never even making past the first few words of the Scripture. I would end up just putting my Bible down and telling myself that I will try again the next night. Same Bat time, same Bat channel. I knew I would be sleepy trying to read so late at night. This became a serious obstacle because I wasn’t using my time wisely. This brings us to Matthew 14:29-30 which says 29) So he said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30) But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me (NKJV)!

When Peter faced the wind, he took his eyes off of Jesus. After he realized it, he cried out. The important thing is that he realized he was sinking. How about you? Will you take time today to say Lord Jesus, I admit that I have let so many things in my life distract me and have taken my eyes off you. Though you may feel like you are sinking, Jesus has his hand extended. Through prayer and fasting, it is as if we take a moment to step out on the water, face forward, and focused on him. Ready to grab hold to his extended hand and hear his sovereign voice call out to us.

Dear Gracious and Heavenly Father. Today, we are here before you to acknowledge that we have let some things in our lives become the center of our attention and caused us to become distracted and taken our focus away from you. Your word says 25) Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26) Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. 27) Do not turn to the right or the left (NKJV). So often, Lord you find us doing the total opposite. Just as you called Peter to have faith and to step out onto the water. He was distracted by the wind and took his eyes off of you. Father, we pray for spiritual awareness so if we become so distracted, that we do not take our eyes off you. As we take this time to come into your presence with fasting and prayer, speak to our hearts and pour your living word into us. Show us where we fall short and fill us with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to address it. We ask these things in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN!

written by: John C. Jones III