Overcoming Distractions
- Angie Jones-Womack
- Oct 5
- 2 min read
Distractions are: “things that prevent someone from giving full attention to something else; something that pulls your attention away from a task or thought, making it difficult to concentrate or focus”. There are external distractions (e.g. social media, the weather, jobs, family, etc), and there are internal distractions (e.g. fatigue, stress, worry and pain).
There is no obstacle, distraction or challenge that Jesus has not already defeated. When you set your mind to complete a task or goal that you have not been successful at, fix your eyes on Jesus, The Author and Perfector of your faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Do not let the “lusts of this world” keep you from accomplishing your goals (1 John 2:16). Let me share how God is helping me to overcome distractions in my life.
In my quest to get back in shape (yes, I fall off the fitness wagon repeatedly too); I started running three plus (3+)miles 4-5 days a week at 5:30am. I started this process three (3) months ago as my morning devotion to Christ. In the past I have run to lose weight and stay in shape, but since my focus has been to devote this time to my King, it has been so much easier to maintain. This is not to say that I do not struggle with the daily distractions that fight to keep us from our destiny, but I have learned that keeping my focus on Him (His love, His faithfulness, His constance, His provision, His protection, etc. etc.) assists me with maintaining this discipline week in and week out.
These early morning runs occur mostly in the dark, where I have to put my complete trust in Him. I do it at this time because most of the world is still sleeping, and I can spend time with my King in the stillness of the early morning dusk. The only way that I am able to force myself out of bed at this hour is focusing my attention on Him; not on my tiredness, physical and/or emotional pain, or my internal misconceptions. (By misconceptions, I mean thinking that what I am doing will not make a difference). Please know that God is moved by our decisions to meet with Him day after day in a lifestyle of worship. So I run in the early mornings because it is my time of worship with my King.
Here are a few takeaways from this experience. To defeat distractions, 1) Pray daily, and pray early; 2) Journal your thoughts and prayers, and His responses; 3) Ask Him what to do when you cannot focus on your goals. Discover a life that depends on God all day/every day as you take time to talk with Him about everything…the big and the small.
Additional scriptures to read and meditate on: Philippians 3:13-14, 2 Corinthians 4:18, and Isaiah 26:3.
In Him,
Angie
IG: @4Hwholeness
Website: www.4Hwholeness.com
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