See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (DARBY)
You sit down to read your bible, suddenly your phone rings.
You try to ignore but decide to pick the call anyway. After all, it is your loved one; they may be having something vital to tell you.
It will only take a minute, at least that's what you tell yourself, but you end up talking for one hour. You talk about your cousin, your brother-in-law and so on.
The time you set aside for prayer is done, now you have to go and do something else.
Sounds familiar?
Well, this is just one example of the many ways we get distracted.
Satan uses distraction to steal our time so that we cannot be able to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and mentally.
The enemy would rather have you rotate around the same mountain than live according to God's plan, so he brings things your way that will distract you from your purpose.
The good thing is we can choose what to do with our time. We can use it effectively or waste it. The devil doesn't have legal authority over you so he cannot force you to do things you don't want; he can only tempt you.
But how do we deal with distractions?
Find Out What Distracts You
To solve a problem effectively, you need to know the cause.
Know what steals your time and then do something about it, and that means taking responsibility for all your actions.
For example, if you keep receiving calls during your devotional time, then your phone is a distraction, and you have to deal with it by switching it off or leaving it in a different room.
Not all things that distract you are evil. There are good things that can turn into distractions if not used wisely, like phones, social media, business, and entertainment.
Plan Out Your Time
Plan your time effectively and then make it a point to follow through.
Emergencies will come up, but they don't happen every day. Come up with a to-do list, designate time for each activity, and follow through.
Try as much as you can to stick to your schedule. If you mess up, don't give up; keep trying until it becomes a habit.
Take Good Care Of Yourself
You will be easily distracted if you don't take good care of yourself.
Take a step back and look at your life right now, if there is something that is bugging you then deal with it instead of pushing it aside.
It is okay to take some time off your busy schedule to relax and calm down. If Jesus took time to rest in between his schedule by sleeping on the boat, you can take care of yourself too.
Ask God For Help
The best way to deal with distractions is to ask God for help.
Ask him to help you focus on what you are about to do and to block away any kind of distraction. It may seem small, but there is nothing too big or small before God.
Don’t allow the enemy to steal your time and resources through distractions. Take charge of your life and reign.
