October 2, 2022
“Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.” Psalms 66:9 (NLT)
“When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.” Proverbs 4:12-13 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 (NLT)
Distractions, Distractions! Life is filled with them, and they happen all the time! How do you handle life’s distractions? Have you ever been distracted and missed your God-given opportunity or assignment? Did you allow the distraction to derail you, finding yourself out of God’s perfect will for your life?
Many times, distractions will come when we are in the middle of doing great for others and wonderful things for the kingdom of God. They happen at the moment we least expect and can knock us off our square taking the focus off our intended goal and purpose. Whatever we are in the midst of doing, we must always keep our focus on Jesus and what He has called us to do.
We must also remember; all distractions are not deemed as bad. They can be a blessing if they cause us to stop and refocus using the distraction as a teachable moment or an opportunity to represent Christ! In Jesus’ ministry, distractions occurred all the time and He used them right into the main focus of His life as opportunities to save the lost!
How we often handle life’s distractions can be a glimpse of our endurance versus reality. October is breast cancer awareness month and today, I along with other ladies participated in the 2022 Komen Detroit Race for the Cure! I was walking especially for my friend Imari and Josephine who are breast cancer survivors! Needless to say, I did not actually train for the race. It was only 3.4 miles; however, my distraction was my constant focus on how much further we had to go to reach the finish line.
Many times, God will use distractions to get out attention. Moses was out on an ordinary day doing his ordinary job! He used the burning bush, a definite distraction, to get Moses’ attention noted in Exodus 3:1-4. One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, suddenly, the angel of the Lord appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up.
How Do We Remain Focused In The Midst of Life’s Distractions?
- Stay focused! Don’t allow yourself to be distracted, even by good things, if they take you away from what you know is right. Daniel 6:13. Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.” (NLT)
- Keep your eyes fixed on the Lord. Psalm 66:9 “Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.”
- Make clear goals for how you will serve God, and then follow those goals without wavering! Hebrews 12:13. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.
- Don’t let family, friends, or anything from your past drag you down; focus your energies on what you can do for God and others now and in the future. Philippians 3:13. “No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”
- Constantly seek wisdom. Proverbs 4:12. If you live a life guided by wisdom, you won’t limp or stumble
Rx A DISCERNING
HEART: It is not complicated to distinguish people who walk with God. Their lives are representative of their walk with HIM! They as not angry, whining, complaining, lying, or fault-finding and drowning in unforgiveness. They produce the fruit of the Spirit! “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things”, Galatians 5:22-23. (NLT). They produce fruit rather than the fruit of fleshly desire in Galatians 5:19-21, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (NLT)
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your spoken Word speaking things into existence and creating the world. We thank you for the Logos, Your written Word, that gives us clear instructions on how to live. We thank You for Your Incarnate Word, that came so we could see the Living Word, in the Precious, Powerful and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ or Savior and Lord, Amen!