Life's Distractions

Day 8. I feel like Captain Kirk aboard the Starship Enterprise, entering my captain's log... I know -- reel it in. LOL I'm back.

Our focus today is the process of evaluating and eliminating the distractions in our lives. "House cleaning" if you will. Before we can really clean house, we must first identify the goal or target from which we may or may not be distracted. The target??? God's Purpose and God's Pleasure. That's all. Everyday when we awake, it's all about -- God's purpose and God's pleasure. In our daily walk -- God's purpose and God's pleasure. Our dealings with people -- God's purpose and God's pleasure. The significance of everything and everyone in our lives, is such, based on their alignment with this target. We are only hitting the bull's eye when our efforts are in alignment.

The bull's eye defined: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:14. Jesus taught so much in his famous "Sermon on the Mount" -- found in the New Testament book of Matthew, chapters 5-7. Very rich and instructional - include in your personal study. Among the empowering and uplifting teachings, were lessons to equip us to be successful in our journey -- keeping us "on target." Late in chapter 6, we are reminded that God knows exactly what we need and that if we seek God first, all the things that "use to" distract us, before God was the target, will be handled and added as they align with God's will for our lives. We often get in the way of our own success because "self" (ambition, monetary pursuits, pleasing people...) is our distraction.

There is nothing wrong with ambition or any other motivator in our lives, as long as it does not distract us from God's purpose and God's pleasure. You can have life coaches and self-help gurus that you admire and follow, but true fulfillment and peace reside in staying focused on the target. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 REMINDER: You will be all that God created you to be by remembering to keep God first.

Every endeavor and person in our lives should lead us back to God -- God's purpose, God's pleasure. So in celebration of the new year, as we prepare to clean house, let's give our lives a "walk through". Are there cracks in your foundation that God needs to repair before you can live your life with peace, joy and victory? What are your distractions?? Is your current dating relationship distracting you from your relationship with God? What about your friendships? Your job situation and career choice? Here's the great part: You may not have to divorce yourself from any of these people or situations. They may be in alignment and YOU could be the one out of alignment. If you know who you are, no environment or person should change your identity or behavior. It helps a great deal to have a friend or two who will encourage and join your efforts to stay on target. Then you can walk together and be support for one another.

Take some time to get to know who you are, beginning with learning who God says you are. Spending time in prayer/solitude builds relationship, strength and confidence. Confidence will trump distractions without fail. The same confidence will generate the necessary determination needed to stay the course each day toward the pursuit of God's purpose and God's pleasure -- and finally you will know God's peace. Beam me up, Scotty