OVERCOMING DISTRACTION 3: DISTRACTION BEGINS WITH ATTRACTION 

The first time I fell in love had some unforgettable moments. I had fallen head over heels. It became so bad that if I was heading to pray and the babe requested a meet-up, I would postpone my prayer time just to see her. It was becoming a distraction. 

One day, while I was spending time in prayer, I heard the Lord instructs me saying, “Drop that handbag”. I knew what the Lord was referring to. I was getting distracted.

Whatever will distract you must attract you first. You cannot be distracted by anything that you are not attracted to. 

Nothing distracts you without your permission. If it distracted you, you permitted it. If you are already losing your will to say to the attraction that led to distraction, it is likely already an addiction. The moment impulse has taken over from reasoning, there is trouble. 

King Solomon started as a genuine lover of God but his attraction to strange women became his distraction. He started by making sacrifices to the Lord and asking for wisdom. 

And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father” 

1 Kings 3:3 KJV

Solomon got an Egyptian princess as part of a treaty agreement but he soon had seven hundred princesses. His attraction soon became a distraction. What began with the Egyptian princess soon began to spread. 

But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

1 Kings 11:1 KJV

His harem turned his heart away: 

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

1 Kings 11:3 KJV

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 11:4 KJV

Your distraction can begin with attraction to a gaming app. For some, it could be where the seed of gambling was sold. There are times when your subscription to movie apps has become a distraction from the study of God’s Word and prayer. 

How does the Apostle James put it? 

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

James 1:13‭-‬15 NLT

Temptation comes from our own desires. Do you realize that the devil tempted Jesus when he was hungry? He then suggested bread to him. He knew that his desire was the only way to get him. Be careful of your desire. It can also be your temptation. 

Will you allow your desire to drag you away?

Will you watch that attraction become a distraction and also an addiction if not watched? 

Do not forget. Whatever distracts you can defeat you. 

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa