Distractions be gone!

I have come to realize that we can control many of the things distracting us away from our relationship with Christ, our center, our peace.  We can control how much time we spend on social media, watching TV, and so on.  These are the sorts of distractions we do not have to succumb to.  

However, some distractions are beyond our control.  

Other people's behavior can be a huge distraction, especially when they are intentionally messing with you. Some people are actually bothered by your peace and will do all they can to push your buttons, to try and upset you.  

Now are they just playing harmless games with you?  Or is it much more serious than that?

Years ago, the Lord moved me to tune in to a certain talk show.  I didn't usually watch this show, so I wasn't sure why He was leading me to watch it.

What I saw I will never forget.  

Miss America was the guest.  The host of the show asked her how she keeps her poise while walking the runway.  How did she not get distracted or lose her balance?

Instead of waiting for Miss America to answer, the host asked her to walk down the "aisle" as if she were in a pageant.  While she walked, the host squirted Silly String all over her.  Nonstop.

It was done for laughs.  But the Lord wanted me to see this for a much deeper reason.

The pageant winner kept her poise completely.  She kept her focus and walked straight ahead as if nothing strange was happening at all.  Her face and body were covered with Silly String.  But she just kept right on walking, staying the course, looking as poised as ever.  Smiling.

I believe the Lord wanted to show me that it is possible to not let distractions get to me.

Now granted, the beauty queen knew what to expect and when to expect it.  She knew it was just in jest.

However, real-life distractions do not come so predictably and lightly.  Some are not as harmless as Silly Sting but rather honk at us like a screamingly loud air horn.  They can hit us blindside and wreak havoc on our souls.

So the trick must be to discern what they are immediately and either just keep on "walking," or flee the situation, if possible.  Does the distraction really warrant our attention?

How do we not let these blaring distractions get to us? 

1. Stand our ground
2. Pray for wisdom and discernment
3. Stay focused on the task at hand
4. Worship the Lord in our hearts
5. Keep our peace 
6. If possible, leave the situation

If you are used to "putting out fires" in your job or real life, this can be difficult.  As women, we are especially prone to put others' needs first, running to the rescue whenever someone needs our help.

I guess we need to discern between which occasions are actually emergencies (fires), and which ones can simply wait.  

In the boat, Jesus slept through the storm.  And when the disciples woke Him up, He did not panic.  Not at all. Now you might be thinking, "Sure.  He's God.  He could just calm the storm with the wave of His Hand."

So then, isn't He more than able to calm the storm around us, too?  Or the storm in our hearts?  

And if the same power in Christ is now given to us via the Holy Spirit, then we must also be able to rebuke the waves of distraction around us, no?  

Waves, be gone!  Distractions, get out of here! I am walking forward with Jesus!

I belong to Christ and as His child, no distraction can overpower me when I remember to Whom I belong.  No weapon formed against me shall prosper! (Isaiah 54:17)