Warning: Distractions Ahead | Northstar Church

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” – Proverbs 4:25 (ESV).

Distraction takes many forms in life today. Maybe you are preparing for a presentation you have to give at work. You are trying to get it done while you have the inspirational energy when you begin to wonder if you should start a load of laundry or whether the stock market is up or down.

We all have the best intentions. We are excited about God, but we all fall victim to the distractions of this world. When we are distracted we have a diminished ability to think deeply about Him, to truly know Him as He is, and to grow more like Him. It is harder and harder to stop long enough to study the scriptures. We struggle with the attention needed to find quality time for God. Where prayer used to be the first activity of the day, we now begin our daily routine by checking our e-mail or checking our Facebook page.

If you are skeptical that distractions are a big deal, take this challenge: Write down on a piece of paper every time you are distracted. My guess is you won’t complete the distraction challenge because you will be distracted.

Okay…there are distractions in your life. Now what? You cannot eliminate all the distractions in life, but what you can do is to focus on Jesus. What are His priorities? Is the distraction taking you away from time with Him?

If we are easily overloaded, overburdened with the busyness of life, stop hitting the fast forward button. Rather hit the pause button and spend time in God’s presence.

Our goal is the same, to not be distracted by anything that pulls us away from what’s supremely important—knowing Christ. God calls us to a life where distractions fade and His voice becomes the One we listen to first and foremost.

Discussion Questions:

What kind of distractions do you have in your life? Do you surround yourself with distractions intentionally or unintentionally?
Does your schedule, time, and life look like that of a person who wants to spiritually grow?
What are some things in your daily life you could change to eliminate some of the distractions?