When An Attraction Becomes A Distraction

Life is filled with many, many attractions.  If you are a Christian your call in life is to serve God and fulfill His ordained plan for your life.  When you do, you are the most effective you could ever be...for Him.  But as you know, following hard after Him leads you down a path that is diametrically opposed to the path of the world you live in.  To live fully for Christ is to live in opposition to the ways of the world.  To wholly serve Him is to live "Counter-culturally".  This can be difficult at times, but that is what makes you effective!  If the enemy can distract you with a world full of attractions, he can render you ineffective in serving God.  That's exactly what satan attempted to do to Jesus when He was in the wilderness.  (See Matthew Chapter 4)  They way he attempted to distract Jesus was by offering Him the power and affluence of this world.  However, Jesus rendered the enemy ineffective by overcoming each potential distraction with the Word of God.  Jesus refused to be distracted by this world's attractions personally offered to Him by satan.

Dictionary.com says the word "attractive" means:  providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner; pleasing; charming; alluring; arousing interest or engaging one's thought, consideration, etc.  To me the image of someone sitting in a boat on a Spring day fishing (whether the fish are biting or not) is an attraction to me.  Man!  You and I can be attracted by almost anything if it is presented in a palatable way.  (Like a big slice of New York  cheese cake.)  We can be attracted by anything or anyone who is, well...attractive.  We must guard our eyes, ears, and most of all our hearts and not allow those attractions to become distractions.   Why?  Because they lead to distraction from our one focus...God.  To be distracted means:  having the attention diverted; rendered incapable of behaving, reacting, etc., in a normal manner.  I love to fish.  I could fish all the time!  But I don't.  Because it would divert my attention from my one focus...God.  

Attractions come in many shapes, forms, and fashions:  people, places, things, hobbies, jobs, ministries, etc.  My prayer for you is that whatever attractions may be a little too "attractive" to you will not be allowed to become distractions.  And if they have, that you will have the Godly strength and judgment to see that they are diverting your full attention from God.  And that with His help you will put these things in their proper perspective so you can be most effective in serving our God.  I am no expert.  But like you, I live life and experience many of the same struggles you do.  One thing I do know; that our God is stronger than any attraction or distraction!  By taking refuge in Him you find the strength to focus your attention on Him!