Dealing with Distractions

Many things will come our way that will distract us from God’s plan and purpose for our lives. How do we overcome those distractions?

Nehemiah gives us some wonderful truths that, if applied, will help us overcome distractions. We can’t avoid the distractions that come our way, but we sure can have victory of them. Nehemiah’s response reveals the keys to success.

Stay focused on the mission
Nehemiah’s first distraction came in the form of a seemingly pleasant invitation, “Come, and let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono” (Nehemiah 6:2). This was an invitation from the enemy distract Nehemiah from the work of God, and hopefully bring the work to a halt.

Fortunately, Nehemiah knew that the men who made the invitation were trying to harm him (Nehemiah 6:2). He knew that the invitation would take him away from what was really important. Therefore, he responded with a statement of God’s mission for his life, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3). Nehemiah understood his mission and was committed to keep focused on his mission.

Good things distract many people in the church. Why? They have lost focus of the mission. They allow opportunities and activities draw them away from church life and serving the Lord. They become inconsistent in church life, or they become non-existent in church life.

Stay strengthened through prayer
The next distraction for Nehemiah came in the form of slander (Nehemiah 6:5-7). Nehemiah was wise enough to know that the slander was not a critical issue that needed to be addressed, but another wasteful distraction from the enemy.

We will experience many hurts while serving the Lord, and some will come from brothers and sisters in Christ. Many people allow those hurts to distract them from the work. Not Nehemiah! He found strength from the Lord through prayer, “O God, strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9). Only grace can enable us to persevere and endure hurtful distractions.

Stay faithful to the word
Nehemiah’s third distraction comes in the form of spiritual seduction (6:10). The enemy wanted to seduce Nehemiah to disobey the word of God. Nehemiah overcame the seduction because of his faithfulness to the word of God. He not only knew the word, he obeyed it.

Don’t let the enemy distract you from what is important! Only what is done for Christ will last!