One of the biggest frustrations of my Christian walk has been my own prone-ness to distraction…
I wrote a post about this a bit ago, but thought I’d touch on it again.
I want to be wholly devoted. I want to be “all for Jesus,” as so many in the history of Christianity seem to have been.
But I find in myself a bent toward distraction, even in the very moments I’m kneeling to pray, intentionally taking time to read the scriptures, or stopping to ponder a significant life issue in light of God’s truth.
Distraction is both a natural part of life AND an indication of the state of my needy heart.
I am human, therefore I am distracted… and it’s exactly BECAUSE I am human, that I am in need. The distraction shows me that fact, and by God’s grace, drives me toward devotion to Christ.
Paul’s example and teaching are powerful here…
What was happening in Paul’s life makes his words all the more powerful…
- Like few people in history, Paul had been given what he calls “surpassing greatness of… revelation.”
What does that mean? God had directly revealed mind-blowing spiritual truths to him. He had a taste of heavenly knowledge, given to him personally.
- Because of that privilege, the LORD Himself determined that Paul needed something to keep him from becoming conceited.
Don’t cluck your tongue just yet. It’s in our nature (yours and mine, as well as Paul’s) to think much of ourselves when we’re given an honored position or special perk. It’s not only a tendency, it’s a danger. Pride is a killer, and we like Paul could easily be killed by it if we were singled-out and given such amazing revelations of God’s truth.
- So God provided Paul with an unusual gift… a “messenger of Satan” to “harass” him.
There’s all kinds of debate whether this was an actual demonic messenger, a physical malady that Paul characterized as a demon, or something else. But all of that misses the point.
God helped Paul out by giving him this thing, this unsettling, humbling thing that kept him from becoming conceited.
I wonder if our “distraction” problem is serving the same purpose?
Let’s go back to Paul’s story to glean some helpful attitudes along that line…
- Paul pleaded three times for the LORD to take away the messenger of Satan, the “thorn in his flesh.”
How often have YOU cried out to God about your distraction? Me? At least 50 times. Probably more. I have cursed it, asked God to take it, prayed for greater ability to focus, stay on track, and keep my heart set on Him. But my distraction problem remains.
- God told Paul to get used to it, because his “thorn” wasn’t going anywhere. It was there on purpose, to serve him, to keep him from exalting himself.
God gives good gifts, even when they don’t look “good” to us. They are good FOR us, maybe like a vaccination… painful at first, but working a greater, more long-term good that we don’t even realize we need. Could the tendency toward distraction be that for us?
- Paul implemented an attitude shift, based on the reality that his “thorn” was actually a gift.
When Paul realized that at the very point of his weakness, God would pour His strength into his life, everything changed. No longer was the thorn a curse, it was a blessing.
Wow. That’s a mind-blower. The frustrating distractions we deal with day after day in our efforts to be devoted to God are actually blessings directly from His hand.
Why would we try to free ourselves from something that God Himself says is a blessing? Can you see your proneness toward distraction as a blessing, rather than a curse? Can you see that it could be God’s gift to you, to keep you dependent on Him?
- The power of Christ rested on Paul when he was able to accept the blessing of his own weakness.
It’s in our weakness that Christ is seen as ultimately strong.
It’s in our weakness that Christ does what only He can do, in us, and through us.
Paul as our model
The Apostle Paul is one of the primary heroes of the New Testament. Most every Christian I know wishes they could be like Paul.
But do we really mean that?
Are we willing to submit ourselves to the things that MADE Paul the man of God that he was? Paul knew that for Christ to work powerfully in his life, he had to accept all that Christ brought into his life. That is humility. It’s what brings us low, but lifts Christ high. It’s what brings the power of God on-line in our lives.
For the sake of your family and the legacy of faith you want to build…
are you willing to become humble before God (1 Peter 5:5-6)? Are you willing to take on the attitude of a servant, ready to bless, willing to give, prepared to serve lives instead of insisting that they serve yours?
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God… accept His gifts of distraction and difficulty and struggle. Rest under its weight. He will lift you up in due time. John Piper speaks well to the issue… and gives us some great thoughts to ponder…
What thoughts do you have on this subject? I’d love to interact with you in the comments below…
by 
This is an accurate statement in my life:
“But I find in myself a bent toward distraction, even in the very moments I’m kneeling to pray, intentionally taking time to read the scriptures, or stopping to ponder a significant life issue in light of God’s truth.”
I think we’re distracted at certain important moments in our day because the enemy does not want us to be spiritually productive. He understands the power of prayer and whispers to us as we kneel to speak to our Father. I need to be more dependant on His Grace to provide a deeper, stronger desire to please Him. The result, in my opinion, is stronger focus on accomplishing what He’s set before me.
Bible study time is the most distraction filled part of my day. I’m supposed to “delight in His law” as Psalms 1 speaks of, but I find myself thinking of the constant ‘to do’ list in my head, the new SciFi show I want to see, my wife, my son and daughter, getting a new car, blogging, my newly written work of fiction, etc, etc.
Where’s that deep, undeniable delight in His Word that Psalms 1 referrs to? Why are all these other things popping into my head now, of all the other times in my day? It’s very frustrating but it reminds me of my need to FULLY depend on His power and, grace.
I agree Taz, that the enemy can be behind our distraction – especially in our devotion times. HOWEVER, I’m learning that God is greater and will even use the enemy’s efforts for our good, as He did in Paul’s life.
I definitely agree Carey. God knows the actions of the demons before they plan them out. He uses this foreknowledge to teach and provide for His children. We just need to remain open to His guidance.