x

Distractions

Distractions

By: Juliet Constantine



Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
 

Have you ever wondered about the real reason for so much trouble and perplexities in our world, in our society, in our church, in our homes and in our lives? Many persons are asking, what’s going on? Why are we bombarded on every side with problems, some of which seems almost impossible to bear? What’s happening? Why are so many things in turmoil and those things that we hold dear are just slipping from our grasp? We’re working smarter but still achieving less. Something isn’t right.

Hold on! Let’s take a closer look.

Distractions - oh yes, that’s what these happenings are. They are distractions. When we are distracted from our real mission and purpose we will loose our focus. We will become so consumed with the cares of this life that we take our gaze off Christ. The plan of the devil is to get us so caught up in doing things, and being concerned about things, that we sometimes fail to totally depend upon Christ. We may even fail to keep our communion and constant dependence on Him. We are distracted from the real task at hand. We loose sight of the big picture.

Let’s view some practical examples. Peter could walk on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. Yes, there were waves, rough ones too and water certainly isn’t asphalt. But he was walking on water. Why did he start to sink? Next, there were disciples in the boat with Jesus who were experienced seamen; who perhaps had weathered many storms. What was different about the tossing billows and the blackened sky, or was it? In both examples, Jesus was there but the disciple(s) lost focus! They couldn’t see Jesus because they were looking at the problem. They lost their peace!

Jesus said to his disciples, “Why were you afraid?” And to us His question is the same. When we take our eyes off Jesus and put in on the problems around us, we will loose our peace and our souls! The devil knows that if he can get us distracted from our real mission, even when we become over zealous about good things, he was in the winning seat. Let us put away all distractions that rob our time with God, that take our peace.

We can praise God for His peace that He gave us. No matter the storms that rage around us, we can have God’s peace and be not troubled and afraid.

Our Father in Heaven, thank you for Your peace, wonderful peace. May it sweep over our spirits today so that our eyes will be kept on You. May we allow no one or nothing to rob our time with You or take our peace, in Jesus’ name we pray, amen.



Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)

Back To Alone With God Devotionals

Suggested Video

Job: The End

What can we learn from the end of the story of Job? Does Job have a happy ending, or is he still awaiting his happy ending? What can this book teach us about human suffering for those who love God? Does God bless us in the here and now? What are the rewards of trusting God? Who can we depend on when family, friends, and acquaintances turn their backs on us? Is death truly the end of life’s story? How can the second coming of Jesus impact how we relate to hardship and difficulties in our lives? Did Job understand the doctrine of the resurrection?

 

 

 

To Remember Or Forget God
This video is from the Class D, 2007-2010, Inspirited Network broadcasts on stickam with Joseph Williams and John Spellman covering topics related to Salvation and Christian Living. Videos are in standard definition since the broadcasts were done before the studio was built.
Matthew: Peter and the Rock

What was the relationship between Peter, Jesus, and the church? How should we understand Jesus' words that upon the rock would he build his church? Who was this rock? Protestants and Catholics have long debated this passage but what secrets do the Greek manuscripts hold that make the matter more clear? In this study John Spellman goes into depth explaining the passage Matthew 16:18 in a way you may never have heard before. Why does it matter who Jesus is to us? Why is it important that we see Him as the rock?

suggested audio

Final Events: The Bible (Part 1)

Pastor Calhoun Jr. Tele-Class C. Discusses final events of Bible prophecy.

The Law and Grace

Joseph Williams and John Spellman present: The Law and Grace. What is the relationship between the law, grace, and the Christian?

Connecting To Jesus

Joseph Williams and John Spellman present: Connecting to Jesus.

Lost Day Of History

The Bible teaches about a day lost in history. A day God designed for us to remember. This week's lesson uncovers the mystery of this forgotten and lost day.

Suggested Reading

Love Found A Way
The love of God never ceases to amaze me! His love is so stubborn and relentless. His love knows no measure. His love found a way to reconcile mankind to Himself! He turned away His own wrath by sacrificing His own Son, Jesus!! Isn’t that amazing? And what’s even more amazing is that Jesus Himself loves us just as much, and is ready and willing to forgive us of our sins. Jesus did not delegate this responsibility to humans – the responsibility to forgive sins. He is our High Priest. He encouraged us not to sin but just in case we did, He was our advocate with Father God. We are only required to confess our faults to each other!
Leave Mary Alone
At Jesus’ going away supper, while others dined and conversed with Him, Mary, out of sheer gratitude, felt a compulsion to anoint Jesus. So she anointed His feet using a very expensive ointment, and her hair was the towel. It was nothing strange to anoint dead bodies, but it was a strange sight to behold the anointment of a living person. Some thought it was a sexual advancement and were very critical of her, others thought that she broke protocol and was being disrespectful. It would seem that no one, except Jesus, was grateful for what she did.
Hosanna
It’s seems like we are created to confront, complain, and murmur. Instead of praising Him in the good times and the bad, we praise only in good times and complain in the bad times. We play when things are good and pray when times are hard. We limit ourselves by looking only ‘as far as the eye can see’. If we allow ourselves to see farther, I know our responses would’ve been different. Short sighted vision will rob us of continual praise, and constant shouts of Hosanna.