"A puppy is the ultimate distraction" ~ Philip Rosenthal, TV writer
Ever sit down to check your grocery list on your phone, then start downloading digital coupons, then go to Pinterest to check the recipe and start pinning for a half hour, but start looking up whether an ingredient is high in sugar or carbs, remember to log everything you've eaten for the day in your app and get depressed because you're already at your limit and it's only 10a.m., so think that maybe you'll go exercise to burn some cals and carbs so you can eat the rest of the day, realize you don't have any workout clothes clean so start a load of laundry, notice how dusty the wood floors are on the way to the laundry room so give that a quick dry mop, then figure why stop there so dust the furniture as well, catch a glance at the clock and realize you have 15 minutes before you have to leave, so frantically fix your hair and makeup, rushing out the door wondering what happened to the morning?
One of the biggest impacts distraction can have on our daily lives is in our quiet time with God. It is essential that we create a time and place to spend our time with God, so that we allow ourselves to have focused daily time in His Word and in prayer.
Our head knows what to do but sometimes our bodies and wills don't follow through. I've found some common deterrents to spending time with God, and hope that they will help you.
Doing the study with someone else or a group where you can talk about the verses can help. Joining an online Bible study is a nice alternative if your schedule is tight. It has an element of accountability for some of us who need it.
We may have a lot on our mind, including anxiety, and ironically it's hard to bring it to the One who can handle it, comfort us and provide for us.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and
He will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough
for today." ~ Matt 6:33-34
Something as simple as having a designated place to do this, preferably secluded, at a time where disruptions are minimal. Have your materials there so you don't have to go looking for them - I.e. Bible, highlighter, pen, journal, cup of coffee/tea.
"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you
will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and
succeed in all you do." Joshua 1:8
If you are using your phone for a Bible app, make your own policy that you won't look at anything else until you have completed x amount of time in the Bible. We are amazing women who make policies for our families, companies, classes, schedules and routines. We can make a policy for our regular time with God, the most important thing in our lives. Discipline is something God wants to develop in us, so asking Him for help with this is a really wise thing to do.
Even a puppy can be distracting, but they're straight up from Jesus so that's ok.
Instead of being scattered, let's use our quiet time alone with God to equip us to scatter the flowers of His Love. One day at a time.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making us so different and uniquely gifted. You graciously have given each of us areas in which we desperately need Your grace to be able to hand it over to You, rely on You, and hear from You. We know the devil actively seeks to keep us from knowing You in a deeper, more meaningful way, so we ask You today to thwart those efforts by him. Help us to be disciplined in our pursuit of You. Amen.
I’m so glad puppies are a legal distraction 😂. I love your blog Terri & your ability (a true gift from God) to transfer the words from your heart & share with the rest of us. I’m grateful to call you my friend 💕
ReplyDeleteSame to you, my friend :)
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