Recently I got off my P’s and got my full License, and in studying for the test they talked a lot about distractions, and how things distract you from what you’re meant to be doing -which is driving. It really got me thinking.
I mean we’ve all seen the grandma driver: We know that whatever has her focus is where her car will eventually start heading. I believe our life is like this. Whatever has our focus and attention is where we are headed. If it’s not God, we will slowly run off course and end up off track. I don’t know about you, but I want to reach my destination, and the only way to do that is to give our attention to God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about the race of faith. It tells us to lay aside every weight which so easily ensnares us and run the race, looking to Jesus. Notice that it says ‘so easily’ ensnares us? Which means it’s sneaky. We don’t drift off at this big sign saying - Wrong Way. But it’s things that seem like they’re the right way that can get us so far off course before we know it.
I was listening to Brian Houston preach about not letting what God has called you to do, distract you from what God has called you to do! People, is what God has called you to, but, don’t let people distract you from the call He has put on your life, which is helping people!
A distraction in essence is a hinderance. It takes us off track, away from what we are called to. God has a good plan for your life, and a distraction is whatever takes you away from the main issue, and stops you from completing the main goal.
Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. It could be anything. The thing that is causing the distraction may not be a bad thing at all, but rather used wrongly. An over application of anything is not good; anything that alters your course away from God. But before you go and start throwing everything out like the tv and deleting your Facebook account for the 10th time, remember that anything can be a distraction - so you actually can’t get rid of them, but you can lay them aside. Let’s find out how the Bible says to get rid of distractions. It’s written right there in Hebrews, it tells you how to lay aside every weight - By looking to Jesus. Yes it’s that simple. Don’t allow anything to get your eyes off Him. I’m not talking about time wasters, I’m talking about focus breakers, things that break your focus from looking to Jesus.
Matthew 14 gives the account of when Jesus came walking on the water to His disciples and Peter said, “Lord if it’s you get me to come”, and He said “come.” Peter actually started walking on the water! So far so good! Until he got his eyes off Jesus and onto his surroundings. Looking at the distractions got him to doubt Jesus. You see it’s not the wind that made him sink, but it’s when the wind became bigger to Him than Jesus. He should have been able to look into the face of the wind (distraction) and not even let it faze him. Why? Because he was with Jesus.
Peter couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Or you could say he couldn’t see his Saviour, because his eyes weren’t on Him, but on the wind. How many times have we done that? Not being able to see our Saviour for the sin. If we focus on our sin, how can He help us? Jesus died on the cross for our sin, but many won’t let it go and acknowledge the one who traded Himself for our sin.. Distracted! It’s thinking like that, that will keep you from the one who did it all!
Worry: it’s a form of distraction, it means those things have a greater influence in your life than God. If you are worried about a thing, then you’re not looking to God for the answer, and He is no longer the main influence in your life. Worry then influences you to make bad decisions; worry never accomplishes anything in life other than more worry.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. - Matthew 6:34 (Message)
The best way to combat distractions is to give your attention over to God. There are so many things that can distract us from following His path. Well actually everything that gets your eyes off Jesus is a distraction. You can’t worry about getting rid of the distractions, what you can do is keep your eyes on Jesus. That’s the only way to stay on track.
Along with my Brother and my Dad, I enjoy riding motorbikes. If you’ve ever ridden before, you know that when you’re going around a corner you can’t be looking at where you are or what is around you, but rather you need to stay focused on where you want to go.
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| "Distractions are Distracting" |
There are going to be times where staying focussed on God (while everything is getting turned upside-down) is not going to be the most fun thing you ever do. But God will bring you out victorious; we just have to discipline ourselves to look to Him, to keep our eyes on God not on ourselves, “What are we going to do?”
I don’t know about you but I have been the Distracted Student at one time or another. Now the distracted Student will be distracted by absolutely anything. He will allow a leaf falling from a tree distract him. Why? Because he doesn't like what he is doing. I remember staring out the window for hours, (instead of doing my school work) - There are going to be times on our path where we don't like what we are doing, and that's where discipline comes in. Doing something you don't want to do at a time you don't want to do it, in order to do something you want to do at a time you want to do it. - Major League Baseball
Jesus didn’t allow Himself to get distracted by the things going on around Him. How? We see in John 8:28 Jesus says, I of myself can do nothing, but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things. He focused on the Father, and didn’t allow Himself to do what He wanted to do, or what He thought was right, but rather followed the Fathers leading.
What an example to us! Look to the Father today, get direction and don’t allow anything to cause you to look away from God, no matter how bad it may be, your answer is only found in Him.
