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With everything going on in our world today, it's hard not to get distracted. Whether you're looking up at a news channel on your TV or down at the feed on your phone, you'll find things that distract you. It's inevitable but it can be overcome.
It can be overcome because even though you can't control the distraction, you can control how you react to it, plus you can be proactive in preventing it.
Why We Should Avoid Distraction
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
One of the main reasons we should avoid distractions is because it's a
Like this Content on Facebook trick from the enemy. The enemy knows that if we're constantly distracted by the noise of the world, it will keep us from hearing the voice of God. Therefore, when he can not destroy us, he distracts us.
Another reason is that distraction pulls us away from what we really want to do. For example, if we want to spend time with family and a work email comes in while we're with them, it distracts us. We end up using up our family time for work, which is not what we first intended to do. This can cause a strain in our relationships, as well as our work because where there's distraction there's no focus.
Biblical Definition Of Distraction
According to the King James Bible Dictionary, there are 5 definitions of distraction (quoted below):
1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.
2. Confusion from a multiplicity of objects crowding on the mind and calling the attention different ways; perturbation of mind; perplexity; as, the family was in a state of distraction (1 Corinthians 7:35)
3. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as political distractions. Never was known a night of such distraction.
4. Madness; a state of disordered reason; franticness; furiousness. (We usually apply this word to a state of derangement which produces raving and violence in the patient.)
5. Folly in the extreme, or amounting to insanity. On the supposition of the truth of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, irreligion is nothing better than a distraction.)-(1).jpg)
Examples of Distraction In the Bible
The word distraction doesn't appear in the Bible very often but we do see it happen often. Three stories that highlight distraction are Martha being distracted by good works, Samson being distracted from his purpose and David being distracted from what he had.
Martha was distracted by good works (Luke 10:38-42)
Martha is a prime example of being distracted. Her intentions were good, Jesus was there and she wanted to serve Him. But while doing so, she forgot that the most important thing was spending time with Him. She got so distracted by everything she wanted to do for the Lord, that she forfeited time on simply being with Him.
Samson was distracted from his purpose (Judges 13-16)
Samson was constantly distracted from his purpose by Delilah. He was so lost in his relationship with her that he was distracted from his identity and gave away his secret.
David was distracted from what he had (Samuel 11)
David was distracted by his view of Bathsheeba on the roof. As the king of Israel, he had a lot to do. But as a man, he was distracted by her beauty and started making one wrong decision after another due to it.
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10 Bible Verses To Meditate & Pray To Overcome Distractions
Jesus recognized the power of praying God's Word. David and Moses knew the same power. You can find examples of the Old Testament
Pre order Now! prophets pray God's word back to Him, as well as New Testament apostles. If you are struggling to overcome distractions in your life, find power by praying and meditating on the below Bible verses on distractions and allow these verse to help you serve God.
Proverbs 4:25-27 - Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Pray It - Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I often get distracted by things that have nothing to do with my calling and I know that's not what you want for me. Please help me to look directly forward and ponder the path of my feet. When I am sure Lord, please help me not to be distracted or swerve to the right or to the left.
Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Pray It - Lord Jesus, the story of Mary and Martha teaches me that although serving you is important, being with you and learning from you is more important. So today, as I come to you in prayer, please teach me how to balance the two. I want to continue serving you but I never want to neglect sitting at your feet and learning either.
Mark 4:19 - but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced
Pray It - Heavenly Father, I come to you guilty of allowing earthly things to distract me from the word you sent. Today I pray for forgiveness and for help. Please help me to not be distracted by other things and instead focus on what you said so that I can bear good fruit.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation, he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.
Pray It - God, Your word says that you will not allow me to be tempted beyond my strength and I believe Your word is true. The things that tempt me have been distracting me from my purpose, so today I'm praying that you will show me the way out. Please help me endure temptation without being distracted, so I can live out your plan for my life.
Ephesians 5:15-16 - So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil.
Pray It - Lord, the distractions I've been facing have kept me from making the best use of my time. I pray today that you will help me be wise in my decisions, so I can overcome evil as well as the distractions that pull me away from my calling.
Mark 1:35 - And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Pray It - Lord Jesus, when you came to earth, you set the perfect example of who we are to be. The world is noisy, so I get why you often went to a solitary place to pray. Today, I pray that you would help me do the same. Help me to stop giving in to the things that distract me from spending time with the Father.
Matthew 6:31-33 - “So don’t ever worry by saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ because it is the unbelievers who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! But first, be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.
Pray It - God, I often get distracted by the cares of this world. By trying to figure out what I'm going to eat, drink, or wear, I often lose focus. I lose focus on the fact that you are Jehovah Jireh, my provider. I lose focus on the kingdom and your righteousness, which should always be my first concern. So today I pray that you will help me remember. Every time I am distracted by the cares of this world, please help me remember how much you care for me.
Revelation 2:3-4 - You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Pray It - Lord, I pray that I will not be so distracted by doing your work that I abandon my love for you. I want to love you more each day and not the other way around. So if I get too busy in your service, please pull me back to your presence. I want to have a relationship with you that never grows cold.
Galatians 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Pray It - Lord Jesus, one of the things that often distracts me from doing what you called me to do is the opinions of others. I often try to please people and therefore lose focus on what you want me to do. Today, I pray that I will stop focusing on the approval of others and instead focus on you.
1 Corinthians 7:35 - This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.
Pray It - Lord God, today I pray that you would help me to attend to you without distraction. May I do what you called me to do and be who you called me to be without being distracted by the things of this world. Please show me the way I should go and help me apply full focus to get there.
Tips for Overcoming Everyday Distractions
Overcoming distractions is not easy but it is possible, especially with God's help. Prayer should always be the first thing you do, but here are more tips on overcoming distractions:
Seek God First Thing In the Morning.
The Psalmist David sought God early in the morning (Psalm 63:1a, NKJV). This is a great example to follow to avoid distraction When we start our day by seeking God first thing in the morning through prayer, reading the Bible and/or meditating on His Word, we are better able to resist distractions. When we seek God first, we are better able to recognize distractions and also better able to focus on His will for the day.
Choose a Focus for the Day.
Choose a focus for the day, write it down and keep it somewhere you can see it. This will help you bring yourself back to focus every time you get distracted.
Pursue Contentment.
Pursuing contentment is another way to avoid distraction. While everyone experiences discontentment on occasion—that wistful wishing that life was different. Unfortunately, discontentment often leads to distraction when we begin to pursue things that God has not called us to pursue to make our life better or happier. Discontentment also caused us to see the blessings that God has bestowed on us as insufficient. This can lead to feelings of jealousy and envy for others, which can serve as a distraction from the race that the Lord has set before you. We can overcome and avoid this distraction if we work on being content. You can read more about how to purse contentment here.
Be intentional with your time.
Set aside time for everything that's important to you and try to be fully present in those moments. One way to not get distracted at this time is to rid yourself of possible distractions. For example, if spending time with family is important to you and you know your phone distracts you, switch it off.
Read the Bible every day.
The enemy often tries to distract us from our identity. He knows that God's plans for us are good, so he tries to distract us so much so, that we never have the time to think about it. Reading your Bible every day will remind you of who God is and who you are in Him. In addition, there are many other benefits of reading the Bible.
Remember Your Identity in Christ.
It is easy to become distracted when we are unsure of who we are. Instead of using our resources to do what God is calling us to do, we use our resources to try to figure our who we are. Conversely, knowing your God-given identity can keep you focus because you know what you are called to do (2 Corinthians 5:20), and you have faith that He will do the work through you.
Remember that God created you with a plan and purpose in mind. The enemy will try his best to distract you from that plan but you can overcome his attempts. You can and you will overcome distraction, God will make sure of it if you'd only go to Him in prayer and give Him full control of your life.
If you are still having problems with distraction despite praying the above Bible verses about distractions and following the above strategies, a Christian therapist or life coach may be helpful. You can search for a Christian mental health provider near you by searching our dictionary here.
P.S., The above Bible verses and prayers can be downloaded for a gift of any amount (including free) below. Just click this sentence or the picture below. They are the perfect size to keep in a wallet or wherever you store your identification.
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About the Author:
Corine Williams, Ph.D. is Clinical Psychologist that is currently seeing clients in the States of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. You can find out more about her practice by visiting www.therapyforchristians.com/corinewilliams. In addition to providing individual therapy, Dr. Williams is also passionate about writing books and designing merchandise that educate, uplift, and normalize mental health subject in the Christian community. You can find out more about her at www.booksbycorine.com or by visiting her amazon profile here: https://www.amazon.com/Corine-Hyman/e/B00AWZ5FL2
Help us increase mental health awareness in the Christian community by donating through our paypal link here: www.paypal.com/therapyforchristians, joining our mailing list by clicking below, or join our provider list here: Provider listing
Disclaimer: the information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are looking for a Christian counselor near you, please check out our directory located here: Christians Therapist Near Me
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