Christian Living, Faith & Women

Are You Distracted?

March 16, 2021

For this week’s devotional, I would like us to talk about Distractions.

Yes, an all to familiar thing that we experience i.e., getting distracted in class, in the middle of a conversation or when we are reading our Bibles or praying.

But, how often do we get distracted in our walk with God?

Distracted with comparison – comparing our lives to those of those others, distracted with trying to accumulate wealth,

by our looks, by trying to gain the approval of people, or we get distracted by the storms & hurdles of life (we will talk about this in next week’s post).

More often than not, we lose focus and, we get distracted and so consumed with trying to do so many things (making it in life, making loads of money, being successful in your career) or trying to be other things.

Don’t get me wrong. Those are great goals.

But the problem comes in when those things become our number one priority and God becomes no. 3, 4, 10 or nowhere to be seen.

I would like you to turn your attention to the verse that speaks about money and evil…

Ring a bell?

The Bible says the love of money…not money itself, is the root of all evil [1 Timothy 6:10].

This verse can be applied to other instances too: The love of success or the love of being approved by the world and society etc.

Or, as the Bible calls these desires, the lust of the flesh.

"For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world."

1 John 2:16 TPT Tweet

When these things; these desires take center stage in your life; your heart, mind and actions and become your key focus, you are no longer living for God and for His Kingdom, but for yourself and to satisfy your selfish desires. And none of these things come from the Father but from the world.

Think about it:

Who informs your mindset telling you that nothing else is important other than the big houses, big cars and all the latest clothes and shoes?

And being able to afford the most expensive meal from the most expensive restaurant?

Where does the pressure to be ‘successful’ come from? To be a millionaire before you reach 30?

To be famous or the top influencer who is known and loved by everyone?

Society! The World!!

And when you let these desires become your key focus not only are you only living for yourself, but you also forget your first love. Because the love of these things “squeezes out” the love of the Father in you and isolates you from him.

"Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity."

1 John 2:15-17 MSG Tweet

And as a result of being isolated from God, you wander away from the faith and end up going through so many negative stuff that you shouldn’t have to, or as Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10, you “pierce yourself [through and through] with many sorrows.”

And I wonder how many of us have gotten so distracted with the things of this world? With the “pursuits” and “treasures of this world” (for where your treasure is, there your heart will be so).

How many of us have allowed the love of the Father to be sucked out of us as we wander off to pursue all these things?

"But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]."

Revelation 2:4 AMP Tweet

And I also wonder, how many of us need to return to our first love?

To get back to where it all began, where it was just you and Jesus and the beautiful communion you had with him.

Daughter of God,

Son of God,

Its time to get back. It’s time to return to your first love. Its time to let go of these empty pursuits and run & pursue after God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Its time to stop getting distracted by the fading treasures of this world and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; the one who was, who is, and is to come and who is coming back again.

CALL TO ACTION

Today, I invite you to pray this prayer of repentance and surrender as you lay down all that yo have held onto, all that you have pursued that has taken the place of God in your life.

“Father in the name of Jesus, I come before you this [morning, afternoon, evening] humbling myself before your throne.

I repent of every sin of omission and commission and I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me with your precious blood.

I also repent of being so consumed with the empty pursuits of this world. By being caught up in [mention what distracted you and consumed your heart, mind & actions] and losing sight of you.

I forsook you and forgot about you, my first love.

I lay it all down King Jesus and I turn back to you. I refuse to let those desires take center stage in my life. You are my everything; you are all I want and all I will ever need.

Cleanse me and renew my mind, heart and a steadfast spirit within me.

Let your Holy Spirit guide me that I may learn to fix my eyes on you at all times, no matter what.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.“

If you have prayed that prayer, I would urge you to reach out to a fellow believer (or you can reach out to me via email: hello@unscripted.co.ke) and share with them so that they can walk with you and keep you accountable.

If you are a lady, I would like you to join the UnScripted Sisterhood WhatsApp Group where you will find a group of ladies who will walk with you, support you and cover you in prayer. If you’re interested, click here to join.

Also, feel free to share in the comments below what convicted you the most and what ill you change moving forward.

I encourage you to share this post with someone by copying the link or by sharing it on the platforms below! Also, feel free to drop us a like and a comment down below.

2 Responses

EVA NDUNG'U says:

21/03/2021 at 2:16 AM

Such a good read and I love the verses you used.

Reply
1. Renee | UnScripted says:
  
  21/03/2021 at 6:40 PM
  
  Thank you!!
  I am glad you loved it!!
  Remember to share it with someone!
  
  Reply