Distractions

Flies. The pesky ruiners of picnics and peaceful napping! The bane of every on-camera news reporter. The curse of God on the defiant Egyptians…

Not that long ago I was in an area that was swarming with flies – big ones, little ones, and ones that even resembled very small bees. I was equally disgusted and irritated! And I found myself shooing them so much that I couldn’t complete the task I was there for. I was highjacked. By flies!

Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Proverbs 4:25

In that moment, frustrated and flustered, my attitude shifted and I became a bit of a spiritual warrior. You could say that I got a holy attitude! There I stood, in the middle of my situation, verbally rebuking the flies in the name of Jesus! Reminding them that they had no authority, and they were not welcomed there. I let them know that when I arrived, I brought the authority and presence of God with me, and they must go. And they did. It’s not like they all flew out the door in formation, but they just stopped and seemed to disappear. The distraction ended. 

Now, I’d like to say that I fully expected that outcome and calmly went about my task. But the truth is that I was a little surprised! Even more, I was grateful for the relief. The Lord used that experience to gently remind me that He is the Lord over my distractions just as much as He is the Lord over my work. I have the privilege as His daughter to invite Him into both.  

Before you begin composing your response to remind me that even flies are a creation of God and have significant purpose in the circle of life, let me just say that it wasn’t the flies, per se, as much as it was the distraction they were causing! I was rebuking the distraction. What distraction do you need to rebuke today? Maybe it has become so commonplace that it doesn’t really stand out as a distraction – but that is exactly what it is.

Let me encourage you today to pause, pray, and ask the Lord what distractions he wants you to rebuke in His name. Is there something that has snuck in and become so commonplace that you overlook the fact that it is a distraction to the assignment the Lord has given you? Are your hands so busy shooing that they can’t be set to the work entrusted to you? The Lord is waiting to be invited in. He will lovingly step in where He is invited and do what only He can – giving you freedom. Simply because…

You are adored.