Satan's Distractions

Do you ever stop to realize how easy it is to get distracted?  We see a growing occurrence of this with people texting and driving.  It only takes a split second to get distracted from the road and the result is often tragic.  If we aren't careful, the same thing can happen in our "spiritual" lives.  The world is full of distractions.  So much has changed that we have allowed our priorities to change too.  Satan’s desire, more than ever, is to keep us distracted so that we take our eyes and attention off of the Lord.  We need to be aware of the dangers of distractions and what impact they have on our spiritual life.

Distractions Defined

Distractions means to "draw away in another direction; to divert; to draw the thoughts in conflicting directions, to harass and confuse."  From a Biblical standpoint a distraction would be anything that draws your attention away from God, His Word, and His plan and purpose for your life.  It's important to not that distractions do not have to pertain directly to sin.  In other words, a distraction may not be a sin, but it could lead to that.

The Bible has a lot to say about distractions.  In Jesus' parable of the sower (Mark 4:14-19) he points out that the seed that was sown among thorns becomes choked out by the cares and worries of this life and the deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things to distract us from God.  Satan is the main source for all of these distractions, but we must be aware of them so that we can combat his devices.

Distractions We Face

There are many distractions we face in this life.  Some of them include:

• Doubt -- Satan will bring doubt into the minds of people to make them doubt that God's Word is true.  This doubt even extends to doubting ourselves that we will ever reach the potential God has for us.
• Discouragement -- Satan does his best to keep you discouraged.  Everyone goes through hard times, but remember to keep your eyes and focus on God and not your circumstances.
• Defeat -- Never allow defeat to distract you from God.  When you suffer defeat, don't allow it to destroy you.  You have to get back up and continue your journey with God.
• Recreation/Amusement/Entertainment -- This distraction is one that is easy to see; television, shopping, video games, internet, cars, games, hobbies, the list could go on and on.  There is nothing wrong with any of them, but when they become a distraction from God, that's the point it is damaging.
• Procrastination -- Procrastination is a distraction because we often "put off" reading God's Word, going to church, praying, or anything spiritual that draws us near to God.

Distractions are easily recognized by "how much time, energy, and resources they occupy and how much they affect us spiritually.  What happens is that Satan uses these distractions to divert our attention away from God and to change our interests, desires and priorities away from spiritual things.

Just as you would pay close attention as you drive down the road, it also important to pay close attention to your spiritual life.  Don't let Satan distract you from God.  Be aware of his devices.  What are you doing to keep your attention focused on God?