Distractions Overload

Distractions Overload

6:18

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory,” Colossians 3:2-4, NIV.

Recently we sent a team of evangelists from our church to Tanzania, Africa. We have been working in different regions of Tanzania for years now, bringing the good news of the gospel of Jesus. We have found there is a deep hunger for spiritual truth and freedom.

What do they want to be freed from? The same thing we all want. Freedom from the spiritual darkness and the lies that deceives us all. The Tanzanians are ready to receive God’s grace, forgiveness and ready to serve a good God. They have seen the darkness and desire the true light only Jesus can give.

While conversing with a spouse of one of the evangelists, I asked if he thought a revival of this magnitude was possible in America today? Did he think we Americans see the darkness all around us? He said, “No. We are too busy being distracted by all the things around us to notice.”

He was right. We don’t have time to notice that the only light we have is fluorescent. Many of us know of God, but we don’t know God personally. Too many of us don’t know what it’s like to live in His righteous light, or in His glorious peace.

We are busy people. We try to find time to spend with our Creator, by using our Bible apps, on the go, but we end up becoming so easily distracted by pop-up ads, incoming calls or texts and threads, that we wonder off in many directions. We try to focus on something that’s good and right, but the distractions are real and problematic for many of us.

No wonder Tanzanians are able to see the spiritual battle better than most Americans. They don’t have the distractions that we have, or that we have invited into our lives.

Seriously, business is a distraction for me. I count it a successful day when I can obey, and surrender until sunset, and then until I finally turn out the lights. But it’s difficult. I guess that’s why Jesus says to only concern yourself with today, worrying about two days in a row is exhausting.

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own,” Matthew 6:34, NIV.

I still struggle at it, even after almost 50 years of walking with Jesus. But I can tell you, it’s worth the struggle to walk daily with Him. His love draws me in, and His peace takes away my worries and frets. He’s so much better than Sudoku or Wordle.

I am so thankful for this faithful promise:

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭25‬, NIV‬‬.

I have to use my phone. That’s my reality. It might be the same for you. But we can minimize its distractions. We can set our phones to be silent at certain times of the day or night.when they influence me away from You. This might help with some of the pop-ups that distract.

How are you doing in the world in which you live? Are you fighting for distraction-free moments? Let’s just make sure we don’t mute Jesus.

Father,

I can’t surrender without You. I have no strength. And my will is weak.

I need Your help to be obedient.

It’s so difficult when the world is so loud and distracting. Help me to follow You. To say no to personal desires and pursuits, and to keep my eyes focused on You, the author and perfector of my faith.

Surrender is difficult, like closing the freezer when you really want the ice cream. But once I walk out of the kitchen, You give me a sense of victory as my reward, and it feels good. The same with choosing to spend time with You over my phone. It just feels good.

Help me to wake up praising You for who You are and forgive me of all my selfish ambitions, which welcomes the distractions.

You are worthy. You are Creator God.

Amen.