Attractive distractions have been the single greatest hindrance to my productivity, peace and spiritual growth. Knowing what I know now, if I had a do-over I would have hastily returned them to sender. In my countless confrontations with detours and delays, one thing I am learning to trust is that He is still in control and His plan - perfect and unchanging - remains my best and highest calling. It is the blueprint for the abundant life He promises.
So while I fumble and stumble about in a life that is currently far from abundant, leaving much to be desired, I have the freedom to choose. At any time I can stop, look up and yield to Him, taking the very first step on the path less traveled and He promises to walk with me every step of the way. The prospect of which should be far more alluring than the instant gratification that comes and goes with fulfilling my short-sighted needs and unholy goals.
It's no coincidence that the distractions I fell victim to came custom made, appealing to every deep and shallow desire I could harbor. At first glance, they appeared 'all good.' A second and third glance would have been more revealing, but the initial impression caught my attention and it became easy to hang on to the fantasy; it was polished, smelled delicious, sounded like heaven, wrapped like God's gift, melted in my mouth, boasted status, came with recognition, promised 'now' versus 'later', shined like gold, and felt like it would never get old.
In retrospect, my peripheral vision picked up, but couldn't quite make out the finely printed disclaimer: "This prize that has attracted your eyes will temporarily feed your ego, mask insecurities and create the illusion of happiness and satisfaction. Side effects and reactions may include dreams deferred, blessings deterred, oppression, depression, faith shaking, excuse making, disillusionment, delusions of grandeur, broken hearts, years of healing, compromise, and your possible demise." Instead of looking closer, it was easier to hope for the best. A false positive.
The Word takes much of the mystery out of it, if you let it. It assures us that just as we encounter false apostles, deceitful workers, and people in disguise, we can be certain that even Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). We have an enemy and he is prowling around like a lion. So, if you think life is happening at lightning speed, or you're being pressed for a quick decision, and it feels like you don't have the time to present it to God and ask for wisdom and direction, that's your cue to make the time.
God gave us free will and we weren't created to be slaves, not to alcohol, drugs, employers, spouses, emotions, hopeless romance, and certainly not to the stories of our past. We are free to choose. I want to use those chances to choose wisely. I've learned the consequences (and blessings) are far reaching.
Every friendship, relationship, pastime and opportunity will have an effect on you or someone else, even if unbeknownst to you. It wasn't always second nature, but now I can consciously ask myself a few questions which personally help me make decisions I can feel at peace about: Is it encouraging me to please God, or to grieve Him? Is it desensitizing or numbing me to something I know or feel is wrong? Is it forcing my adoption of values and ideals that are not mine (and certainly not God's)? Will it place me in an environment where the mention of Jesus Christ, salvation, faith and prayer is taboo or opposed or outright rejected? Is it building me up, or depleting me? Whatever the life story is that I choose to write, it will start and end somewhere. How it starts usually sets the tone.
I need God to be the beginning and the end. If you drive a car or travel anywhere at all, you can attest to the necessity of knowing where you are going, or at the very least, having a sense of direction. Recognize your enemy and plan for victory. The road map will always be in His Word.
Biblical inspiration: 1 Peter 5:8
