Heartprints

Axe The Distractions!

Recently my 17 year old son has been absolutely focused on everything except his school including his phone, his friends, video games, and his part time soccer referee job.  He has what we all experienced at 17/18 years of age and that was “Senior-itis”. Add in the fact that he’s as ADHD as his dad you get a kid that looks like Daffy Duck when he gets all excited. 

Truth be told, I think many of us suffer from “Senior-itis”, we just don’t call it that anymore.  We just call it “busy-itis” and we too are bouncing around like Daffy Duck from one thing to the next.  If we are honest, we are all constantly distracted.   

Distracted from what?  Distracted from everything!  Bad things distract us from good things and often good things distract us from great things.  I think however, the biggest thing we are distracted from is God.

In our home, we have a rule – if something pulls you away from the Lord then you need to cut it.  In other words, if IT distracts – then IT gets axed!  

Do any of you feel like maybe you are distracted from the Lord and maybe something is pulling you away from the Lord?  Job or work, hobbies, TV?  Perhaps video games, addictions or perhaps people?

I’m just going to remind you of this – God is a jealous God!  The Bible tells us in Exodus 20:5 – “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am fa jealous God” 

Isn’t cool that God is jealous for you and your devotion? Just think about it for a second.  The creator of the universe loves you like crazy and is seeking your personal attention. man, that’s wild!

When we get distracted from spending time from God we are essentially putting ourselves in harm’s way and are creating a gaping hole in our lives for Satan to enter and start wreaking havoc.  In short – Distraction leads to Disobedience, which leads to Sin, which leads to Sorrow! 

Pastor Adrian Rodgers coined the phrase – if the devil can’t make you bad – he’ll make you busy.  Of course, when you’re too busy then Satan can work on making you bad.

Here is some good news: When we give God our full attention we can expect his blessings. 

One old testament verse that promises this is: “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. …Duet 28:1-6

I don’t know about you but if being distracted means that I may miss out on the blessings of the Lord, then I need to rethink my priorities and get back to God first and then I’ll let God overtake me with his blessings.

Now take a minute and talk to the Lord; He has nothing distracting Him right now so go for it. 

Brian 

Brian Holt was called into and served in children's ministry for over 20 years. Brian had the privilege to lead in children's ministries ranging from mega-church to plant church size. Brian changed roles in his church and now serves as the Care Pastor at Rock Creek Church in Prosper, Texas overseeing the Care and Support ministries of the church. Brian has been married to his lovely wife Amy for over 24 years and they have 5 amazing kids. Brian's passion is to see every man, woman and child fall in love with Jesus and become one of his devout followers, transforming their lives in the process to be more like Him everyday.

2 Comments

  • Emailog

    God is too awesome!

    Sometimes I feel that God is just so big, so awesome and soooo incredibly majestic that my missing a few minutes or days with Him will not dent is love or blessing for me.   True, he is loving, merciful and so patient that whatever we do outside of Him(not sinful), not going to bring his "axe" down on his blessings.   Jesus paid that price on the cross.  His blessings are my blessings whether I spend time with him or not.  I am blessed no matter what I do, isnt that what Paul said in Ephesians?  My behavior, whether I spent time with Him or not does not determine how much or whether He will bless me or not.  That's the beauty of the NEW COVENANT!  

    • Brian Holt

      Thank you!

      I agree and well said! The work has indeed been done at Calvary.  I just know that the disctractions the pull me from God are often the ones that I look back and wish I would have spent the time with the Lord instead. The blessings are not up to me and my work or my time spent with him that's for sure.  Thank you for the comment.