I am continually learning the importance of focus. One way to define focus is the ability to do what needs to be done- in the midst of distractions. We tend to picture how things will go, plan how we will go about our day; but what happens when unforeseen variables enter the picture? They tend to stop us. If we are going to progress and sustain the progress that God blesses us with, we must learn how to work through distractions.
In order to work through distractions, you must spot them.
It will be practically impossible to work through distractions if you are unable to identify them. This is where reliance on the Lord comes into play. We need Him to show us things as they are really are. If we don’t, we will find ourselves unknowingly giving into the distractions that come our way.
Distractions don’t come easily identifiable.
Distractions, by nature, are deceitful. They don’t come labeled appropriately. Actually, they are labeled as something they are not. Distractions appear to be important, though they are not. They aim to be worthy of our attention, though they are not. Distractions may even appear to be good for us, though they are not.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
– John 10:10
As Christians, we can never forget that we have an enemy who constantly seeks to steal from us. He’s after our happiness, our peace, our joy, our love, and everything good that God has given us. He will never let up, and he will constantly adjust his tactics in order to deceive us.
In order to work through distractions, we must prioritize.
Prioritizing is key in being able to work through distractions. Prioritizing is all about putting things in their proper place. It is easier to spot a distraction when we know the order of our business. For instance, if something or someone is pulling at your attention when you know you should be tending to a higher priority, it could be a distraction.
Satan may not always lure you to sin, he also lures us to less than God’s best.
This is why it is essential that we keep God as our #1 priority. He prepares us, empowers us, and shows us the way like only He can. I’m reminded:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.“
– Psalm 119:105
As we rely on God and His Word, He lightens our path. He directs us down the path that we should follow. I’m continually reminded of this reality when I rise early and spend time with Him and His Word.
Rising early helps us to work through distractions.
When I rise early, I find that it is easier for me to rise above distractions. I feel more prepared for them, as opposed to when I sleep in. Rising early allows me to deal with me, hear from Him, and put His armor on. Starting my day when all the activity is already going makes it a little harder to identify the source.
Not only does rising early help with rising above distractions, rising early allows you to begin your work before the majority of distractions come. It’s not to say that there are no distractions in the early morning hours; but there tends to be less of them. Lastly:
In order to work through distractions, you must know that you can.
As long as we are on earth, we will never be distraction-free. The goal is to grow in being able work through distractions. This is maturity. Not only will God help us to identify distractions, prioritize, as well as rise early; He will also empower us to stay focused and do what we need to do- in the midst of distractions.
He is able to keep us, even when we can’t remove the distraction. Though it is hard, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us [Philippians 4:13]. As we abide in Him, He is able to empower us to do His will, despite all the noise going on around us.
With love,
