How Distraction can lead to Destruction

"Satan doesn’t need to destroy your life if he can just keep you distracted from God long enough, You’ll end up destroying your own life. "

In today’s fast-paced world, distractions are everywhere! So much so that they've become a part of our everyday life routines. In fact, you don't have to try very hard at all to get distracted nowadays.

From the moment you open your eyes, you're met with a little glowing device that's patiently waiting for you on your nightstand. ––If you're anything like me, then the first thing you do when you open your eyes is..... yup,

grab your cell phone.

I think most of us could agree that our phones, in particular play a major role when it comes to distractions!

We've normalized being connected to our phones 24/7 and elevated them as though they hold the highest importance, when in fact they may be the very thing keeping us from our spiritual growth and growth in general.

Think of the last time you were away from your phone for more than 30 minutes?

I mean, why would we, right? We have our calendars on our phones, our calculators, our alarm clocks, heck, even a handy flashlight. But let's be honest, these features aren't what's keeping us glued to our phones, nope! The one that takes the cake for that one, is...

you guessed right, social media!

These little apps of virtual communities that are meant to keep us "connected to one another "

We're so used to being connected to absolutely everything! knowing everyone's business; heck, we know what the inside of people's homes looks like, down to their bathrooms and closets. We know what others eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I mean, the list goes on and on.

We have access to way too much "content" and information than we probably should, and while a lot of it can be very helpful, most of it is pure distraction and if we're not careful, our connection to everything else will pull us away from connecting with the one that matters most, God!

If were not intentional with our time and careful with what we allow our eyes and ears to consume we will start to conform to the patterns of this world, ultimately leading us down a path of destruction.

Satan's strategy is simple: keep you distracted long enough to stop hearing God's voice.

Think about it, even life being "too good" can keep you from seeking God.

When was the time you felt closest to God?

Was it when everything was going perfect and you had everything you wanted?

The answer is more than likely no, because most of us have felt closest to God not when we're on the mountaintop, but sadly, when we're in the valley, at our lowest point desperately crying out for him and seeking His presence but lets be honest , once the suffering ends, our pursuit of Him often slows down.

I too have been guilty of this, which is why we must stay connected to him (the vine) regardless of the season we're in, because apart from Him, we can do nothing!

Sadly, as long as we remain too busy and distracted to make time for God, we’re playing right into the hands of the enemy. 

Because Satan doesn’t really care what exactly keeps you distracted; as long as it keeps you from seeking God, it’s a win for him!

If we consistently overlook maintaining our connection to God, we will inevitably wither away, leading to our own demise. Therefore, cultivating our spiritual discipline, regardless of how we feel and how good or bad our life is, is crucial in our pursuit of following Christ.

You can’t let the algorithm decide what your thought patterns are going to be when you first wake up or before you fall asleep. You have to decide for yourself!! ––By meditating on Gods word.

If the first thing you’re doing when you wake up is immediately grabbing your phone to open social media, then you are allowing the algorithm to shape your thinking

Transformation happens when you take control of what you allow yourself to see, read, and hear. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit! You can’t feed it trash and expect to be walking in the spirit all day.

So the next time you open your eyes and the first thing you're tempted to do is grab that little glowing device on your nightstand choose to grab your bible instead and just simply spend some time alone with God.

Pray and allow him to guide you before you mindlessly grab your phone and begin scrolling.

Philippians 4:8-9

Meditate on These Things

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

My hope is that we come to understand that as long as we exist in this broken world, we will continue to battle the millions of distractions that attempt to pull us away from God. Therefore, we must dedicate ourselves to renewing our minds daily through God’s Word.

As Romans 12:2 reminds us,

^"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Remember that God is never absent; oftentimes we are just too distracted with the world to feel His presence.

Get around a community of believers who pursue righteousness from genuine devotion not just external compliance.

Lastly, commit to feeding your spirit and denying your flesh by choosing Him daily over temporary distractions that only satisfy momentarily

Galatians 2:20

 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.