While I know the enemy often attempts to distract God’s people – lately it seems like distractions are at an all-time high. A distraction is defined as a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else, a diversion, and something that causes extreme agitation of the mind or emotions.
Did you know in car crashes, three different types of distractions are most often the cause?
Visual: taking your eyes off the road
Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive: taking your mind off driving
Let’s look at those from a spiritual perspective. The first distraction is visual. What you set your eyes upon. The Bible has a great deal to say about this.
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, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
If we are going to win our race, we must decide to keep our eyes upon Jesus alone. We cannot look to the left or the right, we must fix our gaze upon Jesus and the Word of God.
The second distraction is manual – taking your hands off the wheel.
Jesus said in Luke 9:62; But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Once we set our hand to the promises of God, we must press forward and plow through with all that is within us. We can’t allow the distractions of this world to slow us down – and trust me, they will try.
The third distraction is taking your mind off what you are doing. Ahh. This is the most difficult one to control. Our mind. Our life follows our thoughts. The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart so is he.
It is absolutely vital that we do not allow the enemy to take our thoughts captive. This is the imaginations the Bible talks about in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
The battle is most often fought in our mind. Consequently, it is also won in our mind.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col. 3:2)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8)
Whatever is a good report – good news – think on these. The Amplified Bible says it this way, fix your mind upon these things.
My friend, there are many distractions out there, balloons, dissention in the Body of Christ, sickness, lack, but we must do what the Bible says and fix our eyes on the good – the Word of God, the promise of God. The truth of who He is and who we are in Him. If we keep our attention on him the distractions will not get us off course. Concerning automobile accidents, distractions are the number one cause of fatal crashes. We do not want to have a fatal spiritual crash, therefore, we must purpose in our heart to keep our eyes on God. Every day. In every situation. Lord Jesus, help us to do just that!
