We Don’t Do Distractions
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - John 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”.
I like so many I am sure have found myself being drawn in by the news media, I find myself channel surfing between CNN, MSNBC, and the Local News so much that I almost get motion-sick from all the back and forth. This week once again I was again woken up around 2:30 in the morning and God was telling me to stop being distracted. He said all the news was doing is distracting me from what He has for me to do. Understand, every distracted minute is an unrecoverable, wasted, lost and frozen in the permanent past unrecoverable and unable to be used opportunity for growth and achievement. Sure, you need to understand what is going on in the world but stop being distracted with what is happening and focus on My Word and what I said. I was being distracted and consumed with what is being done and what is said and it was causing me to loose focus on God and my purpose.
My wife wanted a book, and we got it, and she is reading it now. She was telling me about it, and I have briefly browsed portions of it but what I have talked with her about, and seen what they have talked about on different interviews has really caught my attention which is what the book is actually about. The name of the book is “The Sirens Call” by Chris Hayes. Chris Hayes is a journalist and anchor on MSNBC. His book is about the battle for attention, He states that is what the Internet companies, advertisers, entertainers and politicians demand of us so constantly that we can't pay attention. He also states that the thing that is finite in the information age, as we call it, is attention. In an interview He uses the analogy of the wind and says “You can't control the wind, and you have to take it seriously as an actual force outside of you. If you don't do that, you're not going to get very far. At the same time, the craft that you develop over time is how to figure out how to use technique to capture that wind and move the boat in the direction you want to go. There are certain things that are capturing people's attention at a given moment, and I can't control them en masse. But what I can do is sort of sense where those winds are blowing and attempt to use my rhetorical tool kit to get the show and the audience's attention to end up in the destination that I want it to end up in”.
Although Chris Hayes is talking about attention and I haven’t read the entire book yet I gleaned from what he is saying and see how the Devil uses the same techniques to distract us from focusing on the things God has for us drawing our attention to other superficial things directing our attention in a direction he wants us to go, distracting us from our purpose, and ultimately causing us to miss out on the blessing God has for us.
If we are going to be successful in our walk with God, and in accomplishing our goals, we must learn how to overcome distractions and stay focused in the midst of a distracting world.
We Don’t Do Distractions.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURES: - 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.
DEFINITION: - Webster’s dictionary defines the word distraction as something that directs one’s attention away from something else. A distraction is something that takes our attention away from what we’re supposed to be doing. We are not engaged in what is happening around us. It interferes with our concentration and focus. Simply put, distractions are meant to shift our focus.
Distractions can come in the form of people, things, specific places or environments, circumstances, thoughts, or temptations. Distractions can come from all angles – in ways we least expect, from people we don’t expect, at times we aren’t expecting. And they can end up costing us time, happiness, peace, relationships, money, success, our lives and salvation.
As children of God, when we start to lose sight of God, His Word, and His plan for our lives, because of distractions it can lead us in the wrong direction towards sin, missed opportunities, missed blessings, and discipline from God. Losing sight of God also causes us to live in fear, anger, worry, frustration, and doubt. I can personally say as I was getting drawn by the news and all the negative attention-grabbing menagerie of pollution, corruption, asinine antics, and utter buffoonery that was coming across the airways that I found myself getting angry, frustrated, and doubting and wondering how we were going to make it and wishing certain things would take place and even felt a sense of righteous indignation and prayed like David in Psalms 143:12 “And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant”. No so much that I personally was being wronged but I was being distracted and directed in another direction.
2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”.
We are in a battle, a battle for our souls and the battlefield is fought in our minds. If control of our mind is won, then control of our soul is the prize. The battle fought is won by who or what gets your attention, where your focus is positioned.
As soldiers in the Army of the Lord we are to live a life of discipline, endurance, and commitment. One that is naturally and spiritually prepared dedicated to the mission of serving Christ and does not entangle themselves or is distracted with the affairs of the world. The concept of refraining from entanglement is a deliberate choice to avoid distractions. In the military, soldiers are expected to focus solely on their military duties, avoiding civilian occupations or concerns that could hinder their effectiveness. Hebrews 12:1 says, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. This is putting off any distractions, anything that would get or fight for your attention, any worldly pursuits and concerns that can divert attention from spiritual growth and service. Stop anything that would divert your attention from your duties, change your focus from your purpose but maintain the desire aim - this is imparting in our lives Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Yes, we are in the world, but we are not of the world, and we cannot become distracted with the things that are going on in the world when we have a mission to uphold. We must fight being distracted which requires the motivation to push through hard times that try our faith, patience, and most of all our mind. Understanding that a distracted soldier is not an effective soldier because a distracted soldier can lose his/her life as well as cost others their life in some situations.
We don’t do distractions so: - that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”. The phrase culminates our primary desire to please God our commanding officer for this is a call to live in a way that He has called us into His service. Galatians 1:10 says, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ”. This is our ultimate purpose to fulfill that for which we are called fighting the good fight of faith as a soldier in the Army of the Lord.
We Don’t Do Distractions – Ways to help from being Distracted
As children of God, we are called to live out our faith continually, day by day, in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions and is always striving for our attention. The Bible provides clear instructions for how we should focus on our relationship with God and His work, but distractions can easily lead us away from this calling. At times we all live as if we have an unlimited time to accomplish our God given work. We focus on the things of this world and allow the cares of this life to distract us from our eternal purpose. We are so often robbed by attention seekers who steal our peace and joy, we must set our hope on things eternal.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.
Colossians 3:2 says, “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” By intentionally focusing our thoughts on God’s kingdom and His eternal purposes, we can avoid being distracted by temporary, worldly concerns. We must focus our attention and learn to say no to things that do not honor God and the things that are happening in our government do not honor God in any form or fashion; therefore, we must not be distracted by them. Every time we say no to distractions or temptations we grow stronger in our faith and draw closer to Christ.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Trusting in God’s provision and control can help alleviate worry and fear, which often distract us from God’s work.
Psalms 119:15 “I will meditate on Your precepts and contemplate Your ways.” So often we are our own biggest distraction. Sometimes it is what is going on inside our heads that is stealing our focus. Stress, worry, anxiety, fear, doubt, anger or frustration that can easily set in and distract us. External distractions are one thing, but it is those internal distractions that if we don’t get a handle on, can cause us the most harm; therefore, we must meditate on His ways and not ours.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing.” A life of continual prayer keeps us connected to God and aligned with His will. There is an old saying that says if you pray you will stay and that is never truer than now.
Give Thanks in All Circumstances 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. Give thanks, no matter what we face, keeps our focus on God’s goodness when all seems loss and upside down giving thanks keeps us focused on God and who is really in control.
Walk in the Spirit Galatians 5:16, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh”. A life led by the Holy Spirit helps us avoid sin and distractions. When we are led by the Holy Spirit and not our emotions, not the news media, not the actions of our governmental system, not by the asinine menagerie of idiots in charge we have a peace that passeth all understanding.
We need to encourage each other Hebrews 3:13 “encourage one another every day,” helping each other remain steadfast in faith. We are not in this by ourselves we are many members fitly joined together and we must make sure we encourage each other in the faith.
CLOSING: - Aa children of God, we are called to live out our faith continually, day by day, in a world that often pulls us in different directions and is constantly striving for our attention. At one point or another, we may get distracted, but I know a God that says we don’t have to do distractions. We don’t have to be bombarded with the things of this world that would cause us to miss out on salvation, we don’t do distractions. All we have to do is focus on Christ.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
