The definition of a distraction is: the process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from a desired area of focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the receiving of desired information.
Distractions come from both external sources such as visual triggers, social interactions, music, text messages and phone calls. Internal distractions include hunger, fatigue, illness, worrying, and daydreaming. Both external and internal distractions contribute to our loss of focus.
In a world with so much stimuli and our habit of not taking time out to reflect, refuel and reconnect with both God and the vision and purpose He has called us to, it is very easy to allow ourselves to get distracted. It’s why Jesus in the midst of ministering to the crowds chose to say to the disciples “come away and rest awhile”. He knew that if they didn’t take the time to rest, focus and pray, that the demands and noise of the crowds could easily sway them away from what the Father wanted them to do and also exhaust their internal and external reserves. (Mark 6:31-32)
Today, if you are feeling distracted and all over the place take some time to:
Reflect on what you are spending your time thinking on and doing.
Take time to refuel your life through rest, good food, and time out prospering your soul.
Reconnect with God, with His word and with what He has already spoken to you about your life.
Choose to pay attention to what God says to your heart and through His Word and also be aware of the distractions all around you that can easily contribute to a lack of focus and a diminishing of who you are and what God has planned for your life.
“Pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart. For they bring life to those who find them and healing to their whole body.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get side-tracked, keep your feet from following evil.” (Proverbs 4:20-27)
Prayer: Lord help me to remain focused and to be aware of those things in my life that can cause me to become distracted from what you have promised and spoken to me. Please help me to keep the main thing, the main thing. In Jesus name Amen.