As the pastor stood up to begin his Sunday sermon, my eyes glazed over and I suddenly started thinking about what I was going to eat for lunch (tuna or chicken salad?). Then I went through my “to-do” list for the week ahead. And then my phone, though it was on silent mode, glimmered brightly from inside my purse and I started wondering if it might be my sister responding to that important question I had asked her earlier. And then…I heard the pastor say, “Amen.” The sermon was over and I literally hadn’t heard a word of it. I got bit by the distraction bug….again.
Can you relate?
The Distraction Battle is Real
Distraction is one of the biggest battles we are facing in our modern world. We have endless conversations, information and entertainment at our fingertips just waiting to be indulged in at any moment. Our society seems to be built to distract us from the things that truly matter, and it takes a certain strength of will to resist the temptation.
But this problem is not a new one.
Distraction Has Been Around Forever
According to C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, keeping Christians distracted is one of the oldest tactics in the Devil’s book. As Screwtape, a senior-level demon, writes to his nephew Wormwood, a younger demon just starting out in the business of tempting Christians:
“…You will find that anything or nothing is sufficient to attract his [the Christian’s] wandering attention. You no longer need a good book, which he really likes, to keep him from his prayers or his work or his sleep; a column of advertisements in yesterday’s paper will do…You can make him do nothing at all for long periods.“
The Devil need not spend time and energy turning us into evil people when getting us to stare at our smart phones for hours upon hours is just as effective. As it says in John’s gospel, the enemy’s purpose is “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10, NLT). Distraction is designed to do that very thing; it steals away our time, keeping us from fulfilling God’s Kingdom purposes.
Becoming Like David Against the “Goliath” of Distraction
So it’s time to fight. To become like David and defeat the “Goliath” distraction has become. Here are three practical ways we can enter into battle:
- Become Aware. We need to have an honest look at how we are spending our time. For example, ask yourself: How many hours am I spending responding to texts or trolling instagram, versus spending quality time with my loved ones or with God? Becoming aware of our habits (for better or worse) is the first step towards change. Tip: Take a week and track your habits, such as TV watching, phone and computer use, family meals, quality time with kids and spouse, exercise, etc. You may be surprised to face the facts of what is actually filling up your days.
- Ask for Help. We cannot fight temptation on our own. The Apostle Paul said that in his own weakness, he had to rely on God’s strength (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-11). To overcome the power of distraction we must believe that His power is only made perfect when we admit we can’t do it on our own. Tip: Commit to praying specifically this week about your distractions. Be completely honest with God about areas you feel powerless to change. Be open to the gentle guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit that will come on the other side of our honesty and vulnerability. If you are having trouble finding the words, check out this inspiring book of Puritan prayers and meditations, The Valley of Vision.
- Trust the Process. We won’t be able to defeat distraction overnight. It will be an ongoing battle. But when we take small steps to remove the things that distract, and add the things that help us stay connected to Christ, we will begin to see and experience tangible fruit. The very things that used to lure us away from God will somehow lose their power. Tip: Think specifically about your nighttime routine and your morning routine. They usually influence each other. What do you do in the last hour of your night? What do you do in the first hour of your morning? Then, evaluate if the habits at the end of the day and start of the day are helping you or are they hurting you? This is a good way to identify changes that need to be made.
Let us put on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17) and take our stand against all the silly schemes that can keep us from living a life that counts. And as we do, I pray we would be restored to the true joy of our salvation (see Psalm 51:12), which is leaps and bounds better than any “quick fix” we can get from our distracting ways. Defeating distraction will never be easy, but it will always be worth it.
You Don’t Have to Do it Alone
Defeating the many distractions in our lives often requires asking for help, support and accountability. Check out my coaching page and let’s have a conversation. Why not, it’s free.:)