11/21/22 Weeklies originated by Charles L. Robinson Jr. of Edifying Christian Publications.
I have been consciously watchful for distractions this past week. Watchful to the point that I have specifically included the words "do not get distracted" in my prayers. (1) Additionally, speaking the words "do not get distracted" to myself. Why? To speak life into my spirit in order to keep my mind renewed in thinking "do not get distracted" for the goal to "remain focus". (2,3,4,5,6.) It's on my heart this week to encourage you Charles (Chuckie) III, Caleb (Charles), Aireale, Adrian, Maya, Joan, Charles Sr., and My Beloved (other followers of ECP) to "remain focus".
The definitions of distraction have similar meanings with different verbiage (wording.) For the purpose of this devotion, I would like to focus on the verbiage of distraction as: anything (any object, activity, or action) that distracts (diverts) your attention; draw attention away from something. There are so many examples of distractions that I have encountered in life that the list would consist of several written pages. For the sake of time and simplicity, I will list three distractions in three different settings of personal, secular workplace, Christian ministry. 1. Personal distraction: "Things to do list threatened" - this is when you have a list of things to do and intentional objects, activities, or actions hinder you from completing your tasks. 2. Secular workplace distraction: "Believers fight for who is right" - this is when Christian at their secular workplace contend regarding which behaviors are correct. 3. Christian ministry distraction: " Game time, I or we won so you or you all do not have the right to keep doing it" - this is when ministries develop an attitude that other ministries (or an individual laborer for Christ) has been beat by another ministry or individual laborer for Christ. The ministry or individual who so called loss is disqualified and can not keep doing their calling for God because someone beat them - like to a game, tournament. I know that some may be thinking by now that these exampled distractions are trivial to the point of almost classified as childish but the reality is that these circumstances happen, they happen to me often, and it exposes the days, the nation, and the world that we live in. Therefore, it is essential to remain focus.
Now, let's look at two basic things that helps one (specifically the Christian) to remain focus:
Identify your God willed purpose in circumstances. (7)
Try the spirit within the circumstance to see the spirit(s) position towards your God willed purpose in the circumstance. (8)
We will use the three above examples distractions in the settings of personal, secular workplace, and Christian ministry and apply the two above basic principles to the settings.
Personal distraction: If you personally have a list of tasks to do that are God ordered and approved but other spirit(s) intent is to divert you - draw you away from your God willed purpose that exists within your tasks, it is a distraction. (9)
Secular workplace distraction: If your behavior adheres to the direction of your leadership but other spirit(s) intent is to divert you - draw you away from your God willed purpose in obeying your leadership, it is a distraction. (10) Even if your leadership's intent is to divert you - draw you away from it's established adherences, it is a distraction. (11)
Christian ministry distraction: If you are amongst other ministries or an individual labor for Christ and their spirit(s) intent is to compete against you or your ministry and thinks you do not have the right to continue in ministry, it is a distraction. (12, 13)
Lastly, it is imperative that you discover-discern "the intent" within circumstances and measure the intent(s) to the word of God. Why? Because sometimes things can look and feel like a distraction and really not be a distraction. It could be purposed to strengthen you or some other God willed purpose to greater position you for your God willed purpose. However, if the intent is an object, action, or activity to divert or draw you away from your God willed purpose then it is a distraction (God wants you to be near him, not depart him.) When or if circumstances (distractions) happen, do not take it personal. Why? Because the distractor is distracted from God and you simply are subject to it because you carry God's purpose. We live in days that are extremely distracted from God, but I edify you all to remain focus on God and your God will purpose(s).
Supporting Scriptures:
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak" - Matthew 26:41
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" - Proverbs 18:21
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind" - Ephesians 4:23
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" - Romans 12:2
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit"- Proverbs 15:4
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee" - Proverbs 23:7
"But all these worketh that one and the selfsame spirit, dividing every one severally as he will" - 1 Corinthians 12:11
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" - 1 John 4:1
"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" - Romans 12:11
"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ" - Ephesians 6:5
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" - Matthew 22:37-38
"But he turned, and said to Peter, Get thee behind men, Satan: Thou art an offence to me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men" - Matthew 16:23
"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethern, then which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God I did not baptize none of you, but Crispus and Gaius" - 1 Corinthians 1:11-14
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ" - 1 Corinthians 12:12