Are you constantly fighting annoying distractions?
The questions. The worry. The smartphones. The conflict. The bad health reports. The waiting. The Media News Alerts. The Never-ending “To Do List.”
As a godly mentor, I must be honest and admit I can easily be distracted too.
Jesus knew we would be distracted by the world surrounding us. He gave us a story in Scripture we can specifically apply to our lives today.
In Luke 10:38-42 we read how the impact of choosing where you go and what you do can help you win or lose the fight with distractions.
Here’s the breakdown:
Verse 38: Martha invites Jesus into her house.
Verse 39: Her sister Mary, sits down at His feet to hear Him teach.
Verse 40: Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing and is worried.
Verse 41:Jesus says, ”Martha, Martha you are worried and anxious over the details.”
Verse 42: Jesus shares his wisdom and guidance with Martha to teach her how to fight her present distractions. “Only one thing matters and Mary has chosen that one thing.”
Where was Martha? Busy on her feet.
Where was her sister Mary? Sitting at the feet of Jesus.
How does this apply to you and I?
#1 Invite
First of all, Martha was the one who boldly invited Jesus into her house but then allowed herself to be pulled away from the source she needed to sustain her life. She became distracted.
Winning Application: Invite Jesus into your day before you get out of bed. Invite Him to order your steps and your schedule. Invite the Holy Spirit to work in and through your entire day.
Matthew 9:10 “Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home…”
Warning against Losing: Don’t just invite Jesus into your home and life and allow the distractions to drag you away from His presence.
#2 Invest
Secondly, Mary chose to invest her time with the Lord and grow in her faith.
Winning Application: The best investment of your time will be spending specific time in the Word of God and praying. Select a consistent time each day to meet with God. Start small and watch your relationship begin to grow.
Isaiah 55:11 “God’s word will not return empty.”
Warning against Losing: The devil is so happy if we continue to just talk about the distractions and not take action. Go ahead. Be a threat to the devil and make a choice to invest!
#3 Important One Thing
Finally, Martha was doing busy work that needed to be done but it wasn’t the most important thing to do at the moment.
Proverbs 3:6 “… Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.”
Andy Stanley says, “Don’t give time to things that destroy your focus.”
Winning Application: Sitting with Jesus in prayer and reading your Bible is the “only one thing” that will help you maintain your peace of mind and your focus. Learn to prioritize what is important. Ask the Lord to help you!
Warning against Losing: The world will say this idea is ridiculous. (Maybe you are thinking the same thing too!) Fight listening to the world’s words and chose the “only one thing.”
Could it be that Jesus is sitting in your favorite comfy chair in the living room of your home and waiting to have an authentic conversation with you?
Most of all, Jesus wants to spend one-on-one time alone with you.
Go ahead. Start today.
Now is the time to Win The Fight Against Distractions.
Invite…Invest…choose the Important One Thing!
