Recognize the Distractions

Have you ever been watching something on TV or listening to something, and someone starts talking to you, so you hit the pause button? You hit that pause button because you don't want to miss what will happen next. You also hit the pause button so you can give that person your undivided attention. Some may go right back to what they were watching or listening to but others don't for days or even weeks. 

Spiritually, we can hit the pause button on our God-given purpose and not unpause for days, months, or even years. I thought about this after God reset me (see the previous devotion). I began to pray and ask God why I kept pausing or stopping all together in the past. 

​ I learned that there was a deeper reason for me pausing so often. The greatest one was feeling overwhelmed. Another reason was my hidden fears. These things became distractions for me, which caused me to continue to pause. 

I felt overwhelmed because I tried to figure out how to complete all of the parts the Lord had sat before me. When I'm overwhelmed, I often cease doing anything or very little. That left me only completing pieces of the Lord's vision. When I would pause, I would focus my attention on something else, making it a distraction. This revealed my hidden fears. I paused because I feared failing and disappointing God. However, I didn't go to the Lord to ask Him for help. For balance. For wisdom. 

Do you recall the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Well, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. She got distracted by much  serving. Then, she became overwhelmed because she operated in her own wisdom. At that point, she asked Christ if he cared that her sister Mary had left her to serve alone. Instead of Jesus correcting Mary as she wanted, he corrected Martha by explaining to her how anxious and troubled she was, but her sister had chosen to sit at His feet and learn from Him, gain wisdom and understanding. 

You see, I had to stop being Martha and start being Mary. It is okay to pause from the chase to learn, gain wisdom, and rest in the peace of Christ. I learned that the Lord hadn't changed His mind about my purpose. I needed to shift my attention to Him and away from fear. In my overwhelmed state, he called me to be still and gain what I needed from Him to not run out of steam. I am grateful because I tried to figure out how to do it all on my own. That wasn't his desire. I leaned on my own understanding, which caused me to almost give up. 

My distractions were the other things that seemed easier. The things that would keep some of the vision moving forward, but it wasn't the whole vision. 

As I have been spending time with the LORD, I've been led to remember His unique purpose in me. I have been instructed to keep my attention shifted to Him and keep going. Finally, He continues to give me strategy and wisdom, so I won't feel overwhelmed as I was before. My fears disappear each time I remember that this is His and not mine. I only need to allow Him to do the work in me. 

So, the next time you hit the pause button on your purpose, let it only be a short time. Recognize the distractions that came to throw you off track. Quickly return to it and ask the Lord to lead the way. See the tips to help with feeling overwhelmed on the lifestyle blog. 

https://hope-in-christ.com/lifestyle-blog.html

Be Blessed, 
HOPE in Christ

Denise M. Walker