distractions

Have you ever gone into a room, intending to get something only to forget what you were in there for? Perhaps it had only taken a few seconds, but from the time you had thought of the thing you wanted to get to the time you were in the area to get it, the object seemed to have slipped your mind. What happened? Most likely, you got distracted. On your way – going from here to there – something inadvertently entered your mind that you unknowingly chose to focus on instead, and in the process, you forgot what was originally so important. Frustrated, you probably left the area to go do something else, hoping that whatever it was that had been so important for you to get would come back to your memory so you could remember it because, at the time, you knew it really was something important, something of significance. In our Christian walk, we can get distracted as well. We may be “on our way” to go do something special for the Lord … and, before we know it, that special thing inadvertently slips our mind. We know it was something important, we really do, but for the life of us we can’t remember what it was. Our lives can get so busy … with so many distractions … we oftentimes forget what is really important … what really matters in the long run. The things we see on the surface can distract us to the “unseen” realities of what’s going on behind the scenes in someone’s heart. Only when we make a concentrated effort to be aware and pay attention can we overcome the distractions that would otherwise sideline us from fulfilling our intended purpose. Did you know that distractions are one of Satan’s schemes? He may know that he can’t openly drag you away from whatever it is God has put on your heart to do … that would be too obvious … you would surely notice that and put up a defense. However, if he can distract you … if he can waylay you … if he can get your mind focused on something else … something seemingly more important on the surface … he will surely do whatever he can so that your intended purpose does not get fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV) says, “in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.”  So, today, the timeless truth is that we need to be aware … aware of Satan’s schemes … so that we don’t get waylayed by all the seemingly important distractions he throws into our paths.  Only when we are aware and pay attention can we overcome and have the victory in fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives!