Distractions

The other day, I sat to write. We were away and I was going to make a post on the blog. I had experienced a great time with friends and I was going to write about it. I had a specific idea and was ready to write.

I sat with my cup of coffee in a comfy rocking chair and just before I began to write, I clicked on the television for some company because my husband was sleeping. I thought "TV won't bother me and I need the noise in the background."

My first mistake was that it was a Saturday morning. My second mistake was A&E. You see, I love home improvement shows. I overlooked it and began to write anyway. What I found was that even as I knew my thoughts and topic, I would often find myself interested in something I heard in the background.

I would stop, look and listen...but not in a good way. When I did that, I lost track of what I was writing and would lose my thoughts. I felt safe in thinking that I was capable of writing with the television on but quickly found myself distracted! I found it interesting that I had selected this very topic Fatal Distractions for my ladies Bible Study class in the fall.  Now, here I was being taken in by a talking box!

It is so easy to be distracted by outside sources. What was even more sad was that I just knew that I would not be affected and soon, I was deep in the TV series and out of the blog. How many times do we go into something believing that it will not touch us, bother us, or distract us and yet we get completely taken in.

Before I knew it, I had forgotten about my post. The iPad went into sleep mode and I was completely side tracked. I had to re-group, turn off the television and get back on track. So many times we put ourselves in a position where we know something can distract us then we ask "God why didn't you spare me from that?" God had nothing to do with the choice I made to turn on the TV.

The other thing I found is that the distraction was completely distructive. The answer to "Why?" is because when I write, I rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me and give me words. This morning,the distraction was the competition and God does not compete with distractions or anything else. As such, I lost my focus and words would not come.

I just went blank! I am thankful that I "turned it off!"  There will be distractions all around us, both those that arise without our prompting and those we bring upon ourselves. I just have one thing to say about distractions...walk away! They are destructive and will get in your way of a relationship with Christ.

As far as having the attitude of "it won't bother me" think again!  The enemy is willing to use anything to get in the way of advancing God's work.  So for me, I will pray against the distractions because they have the power to lure you away.

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when  it is full grown, gives birth to deat.  Don't be deceived my dear brothers.  James 1: 13-16