Distractions

“I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” (1 Corinthians 7:35 NLT)

Distracted driving accounts for approximately 25% of all motor vehicle accidents. Common distractions within your own vehicle include: cell phones, navigation systems, entertainment systems, other passengers, food, drinks, etc. Our attention can also be diverted by external factors such as other vehicles, construction, roadside attractions, accidents, scenery, billboards, and weather conditions. All these things can slow us down or prevent us from getting to our destination safely.

Similarly, worldly preoccupations can prevent us from fully dedicating our lives to God. Our concerns for our loved ones, ambitions, desires, hang-ups, hobbies, worries, work, approval addiction, self-absorption, self-reliance, laziness, exhaustion--all can be distractions that pull us away from our destination.

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves from distractions. Self-evaluation can help us become aware of the things that vie for our attention. Cultivating detachment is the next step. This requires trust in God. When we learn to hand over our concerns to the Lord and allow Him to take care of everything, we are able to detach from the things of this world and attach to something infinitely better. Finally, we must devote our full concentration to the end goal--which is a life dedicated to knowing, loving, and serving the Lord.