Tidbits for Life with First Lady Darlene: Distractions

A Distraction is something that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else other than what you are trying to focus on.

Spiritual Distractions is a continual journey for believers…dissatisfaction and disappointment often creates an environment where distraction runs wild. We focus on the wrong things and lose track of what God is trying to do in us, or through us. We want God, but we ourselves distract us from him.

Distraction comes without prejudice, it can happen to anyone.

1. Distract you from your identity. Your identity will constantly be challenged because the enemy knows if he can convince you of something other than who you are in Christ he will get you off course.

2. Speed you up or slow you down. Timing in the Kingdom of God is critical to most things. Often distractions come in this area because we are impatient. The enemy, however, will also try to get us to act too soon, or not soon enough out of fear and insecurity.

3. Present you with a counterfeit. Often right at the point of breakthrough, the enemy will try to distract us with a counterfeit. It will look like the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the perfect outcome or an answer. But all of these things will also involve a compromise, like dating a non-christian or taking a job that moves you away from what God is doing in your life.

How can we fight distractions?

· Don’t try to do too many tasks at one time.

· If you get distracted, perhaps you can read the bible to come back to focus

· Avoid any background noises, the phone, children, driving and the TV are all major distractions.

Biblical distractions

Eve

In the Garden of Eden everything was provided. It was utopia. The serpent was able to distract eve when she was isolated. He lied to her and convinced her that what God really said wasn’t true…she got distracted and made a mistake. (Genesis 3)

Samson was distracted. Delilah was a woman of Sorek. She is the only woman in Samson's story who is named. The Bible says that Samson loved her (Judges 16:4) but not that she loved him. ... The lords of the Philistines bribed her to discover the source of Samson's great strength, each offering to

In Davids story however he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

David was king, and his responsibility was to be at war with his men. Instead he stayed in Jerusalem, and because he was there it created an opportunity for him to be distracted.

David had been on the roof many times, and he probably knew exactly who Bathsheba was because her husband Uriah was in Davids army. David got distracted and then made the situation worse by murdering to cover up his mistake. When we get distracted and make mistakes we are out of position and try to cover up rather than go to God for forgiveness and help. (II Samuel 11).

**Distractions will always be in our lives. I believe we will not be as distracted if we keep our mind stayed on Jesus.

May God bless you and I hope I’ve said some that will help you a tadbit