I was going to ask the question “Have you ever been distracted?” but that would just be silly. Everyone has experienced distractions in one form or another all our lives.
dis-trac-tion: noun 1. a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. Synonyms: diversion, interruption, disturbance, intrusion, interference, obstruction, hindrance
Sometimes distractions are things we set on ourselves. These can be to avoid doing something we don’t want to do. When I was a teenager, my dad made a desk for my bedroom for me to do my homework on. But then he put a mirror on the wall over it. Yes, I used to talk to myself in that mirror. What’s a girl to do?!
Maybe you have distractions that you don’t even realize are distractions. Case in point. My husband and I were at a popular restaurant in Houston some time ago. At a nearby table was a couple on a date. Beautiful girl, handsome guy. She had her cell phone out. the.whole.time. I felt like going over to the table and whispering to her, “Look at this handsome man across the table from you. He wants to spend time with you.” Don’t let relationships or potential relationships fail by your inattention and distractions.
Or distractions can be good things. When you’ve been working really hard on something and aren’t getting anywhere, a distraction can help you take a break and refocus on the task ahead. My sis-in-law is a writer and one of her distractions to get her refocused is working a jigsaw puzzles.
Sometimes distractions are things Satan throws at us. Things to keep us from doing what we are supposed to be doing or from giving something our full attention. Little things like constant ringing in the ears, eye floaters, sinus infections. (Yes, all those are affecting me right now.) And sometimes not so little things like cancer (that one too) or relationships breaking apart.
When you’ve set goals for yourself like reading your Bible everyday, prayer and fasting, dieting and exercise, distractions can wreak havoc on those plans. Things like chocolate (you know like Valentine’s Day candy–then Easter is right around the corner, sheesh!) food commercials, rainy days, Facebook, Pinterest, Netflix, YouTube can all be destructive distractions.
“So, how do I get around the distractions?” you may ask. Good question but I’m not sure I have a good answer for you. For me, I have to discern whether they are good distractions or destructive. Whether they are those I put on myself or from Satan. Knowing where they’re coming from makes a big difference in how you should handle them.
Starve your distractions, feed your focus.
Anonymous
In determination vs. distraction, determination wins every time. Focus. And when you cannot seem to get that focus, look up. God will help you get your focus back.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
Hebrews 12:1-2
Lay aside every weight. Those distractions. It takes training to run a race. It takes training to stay focused on the prize.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is right for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and if we don’t give up
Galatians 6:9
What are you being distracted by? Is it destructive or an escape? Is it helping you refocus?
And what is your prize? Think about it.