Wednesday, February 8, 2023

            Distractions happen.  You may feel like some of your days are full of distractions or interruptions.  Occasionally, the enemy distracts us from what is important and what God has for us to do.  Proverbs offers some guidance for how to deal with distractions in life.  The Bible says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27).  When we think on these verses, we discover that the Bible offers us four ways to deal with the distractions that come at us in life. 
            First, we need to fix our eyes “straight ahead.”  Look at what God has for you to do today.  Likely, your day involves family, work, your relationship with the Lord and the common things that you know are important.  Do not neglect what God has given to you.  Value the people and the opportunities that God has placed in your life.  See them each day and continue to see them.  The enemy would love to distract us and divert our attention away from the priorities of life and faith.  Do not neglect your walk with the Lord.  Feed your faith consistently and consciously.
            Second, be steadfast.  The word steadfast can mean persistent, dedicated and trustworthy.  The idea is to live a consistent life.  Be the same person every day.  Be the same person when you are alone as you are with others.  Be reliable and dependable.  Honor the trust that others may place in you.  Do not let the enemy lead you astray down pathways and rabbit holes that are not worthy of your time and life.  Do not get lost in petty battles, trivial things or malicious activities.  If someone tries to lure you into these things, do not take the bait.  Take a look at where you are going.  Be sure that your plans, actions or steps honor to God and the faith you profess in Him.
            Third, do not make abrupt changes.  The Bible says we are not to “swerve to the right or the left.”  The idea is to think before you act.  Abrupt changes can often end badly.  Radical changes to a different direction or pathway in life can lead to sorrow, disillusionment and discouragement.  Seek the Lord before making major life changes like a new job, making a move from one place to another, retiring or having a child.  Making a quick or wholesale change could well make a desperate situation even worse.  
            And fourth, avoid evil.  Do not play with sin or flirt with sin.  Flee sin and flee from even the temptation to sin.  The Bible says “keep your foot from evil.”  The enemy will often try to lure us into sin when we are physically tired, emotionally drained, spiritually weak and not attending to the priorities that God has given to us.  Long stretches of time away from the Bible, prayer, worship and serving the Lord can lead us to put our feet in evil places.  Do not make light of evil or the enemy.  He will relentlessly try to lead you away from what God has placed before you into something that is evil and destructive. A bit earlier in Proverbs 4:23 we read, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  Never let anything distract you from guarding your heart and keeping your life clean and righteous before the Lord.  When sin is present or recognized, confess it quickly and receive His forgiveness and grace.
            Distractions and temptations will come.  We cannot stop them.  Remember, Jesus
was tempted by the devil and faced the demands of others to pull Him away from the Father’s plans.  But Jesus knew what the Father had for Him to do and stuck to it.  With His help, we can do likewise.  God has entrusted us with His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit living in those who are born-again followers and believers.  If you find yourself distracted, you can make some changes.  You can get back to the pathway that the Lord has for you.  Trust His help and rely on His grace to get focused and faithful once again.  Have a great day!  And remember to worship any time at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.