Master of Distraction

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

One of my favorite TV shows of late is a series called Outlander. Claire, a World War II nurse, travels back in time to 1743 Scotland, builds a new life among the Scottish Highlanders, and marries a Scotsman, Jamie Fraser. In the most recent episode, Jamie and Claire flee to Paris to escape the price on Jamie’s head for killing his archenemy, evil Black Jack Randall. Claire finds out from one of Black Jack Randall’s relatives that he is actually not dead. She deliberates and is troubled in her soul about whether she should tell her husband or not. If she does tell him, he would be so blinded by anger that he might leave Paris to try to kill Randall once and for all. But doing so would distract him from his main mission, which is to try and re-write history by stopping the Battle of Culloden, which will kill thousands of Jamie’s beloved Scots in 1746.

I completely resonate with being blinded by distraction while seeking to pursue what God is calling me to do in my own life. I believe that Satan knows exactly where our weak spots are, and he will try with all of his might to distract us from bearing fruit for God. For me, I struggle with doubting my abilities, feeling like I don’t have direction, or worrying about the future too much.

Lately, I keep getting nudged by God that I will need to step out of my comfort zone soon, and perhaps give up security, comfort and the “knowns” in my life. I will pray and ask God for direction, and then in an instant, I will get thoughts of, “You’re crazy! Why in the world would you give up security for something so risky? What if you won’t be able to support yourself and end up on the streets?” I start to feel deflated, but then I realize that I am being distracted by Satan to try and knock me off course.

What I am learning to do is put on the full armor of God so that I can stand ready in the face of this battle. For every negative thought or obstacle, I need to counter with the power of God in my life by believing His words of truth and praying for His strength.

I think of Creekside as we are stepping out into the unknown in so many areas. Are we being sober-minded, watchful, and aware, knowing that Satan will try to distract us from shining God’s light in our neighborhood and in our world?

Are you personally battling being distracted by Satan? Are your emotions, or is some circumstance in your life, pulling you away from what God is calling you to do?

Take heart, dear friend. The Master of Distraction can be overcome by the power of our God if we seek Him and let him fight the battle for us.