2 Corinthians 7:1
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine sums up her life like this… “Oh, look… a squirrel!” In other words, she is easily distracted by something as simple as a squirrel passing through her yard. And let’s be honest… there are countless interruptions in our everyday life that can divert our attention. Staying focused and “on task” is not easy!
At any given moment, my mind is racing between a dozen or more trains of thought… what I have on my “to-do list” for the day…what to say in this devotional… what to cook for dinner…when I will have time to fit in a workout…what day will be good for the children to visit…I forgot to water the plants…did I turn off the iron?...I wish I hadn’t said/done such-and-such to one person or another… why did I eat that last chicken strip?... I need to check and answer e-mail…and so much more! And I bet you could give me a similar list. While all of this is going on in our brains, we are trying to concentrate on specific tasks… studying…working at our job…caring for our children, friends or other family members… driving… texting or e-mailing… carrying on a conversation with someone…or even reading our Bible or praying!
Paul is telling us in this passage that we need to clean out the clutter. We need to call on God to help us gain focus – and keep it. We need to learn to concentrate on one, maybe two tasks at a time…to limit the minutes we spend daydreaming… to get organized… and to prioritize. When we “see a squirrel,” we need to essentially say, “Yep, that’s a squirrel!” and return to the task at hand.
We need to start replacing some of the mindless drivel that occupies our mind – and our time – with a dialog between ourselves and God, Bible study, and a focus on things that honor and glorify Him. We need to evaluate every aspect of our lives… from the junk food we ingest to our lack of exercise and proper rest to the activities that consume our days and nights… and see where these things line up with God’s plan for us.
There is no time like the present to clear the clutter – physically, mentally, and Spiritually. Every single one of us has some area of our life with which we are less than serene. Even those of us who feel that life is pretty good can name something that could use improvement… an aspect that we could work on that would bring us more into sync with God – and create a more peaceful existence in the bargain.
Clearing the clutter and making more room for God is something each of us should consider. God will help us figure out what needs to stay and what should go. And when we “see a squirrel”…He can help us learn how to momentarily admire it and get right back on track! Aren’t you ready to rid yourself of distractions and the troubles that come with them? Don’t you want to focus more clearly on God and His plan for your life? Isn’t it time to bring His peace and order into your daily living? Will this be the day you begin… or are you still too busy looking at squirrels?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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