God has the best path for our lives, a path that leads to our divine purpose. It’s filled with opportunity, favour and protection, but along the way there will be forces trying to get us distracted through compromise, hanging around the wrong people or living offended. The scripture says “Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:26-27
God knew there would be all these distractions trying to stop you from reaching your highest potential. You have to recognize what a distraction is and what is important… Recognize also what you should spend your time with, what is valuable, what is making you better, causing you to grow, and what is dragging you down and causing you to compromise.
The scripture says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16) Time is one of the most valuable things that you have. Once we live this day, you can never get it back. Just like you spend your money, you are spending your time, but your time is more valuable than money. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time.
Life is going by so fast. We don’t have time to be distracted. We have a purpose to fulfill. It’s interesting in the parable Jesus told about the talents. One man had one, another had two, and the third had five. They all went out and doubled what they had, except the man with one… (Matthew 25:14-30)
He was afraid and hid his talent. The owner said, “Take from him the one, and give it to the one who has five”. The point is: if you don’t use well what has been given to you, eventually it will be taken away.
Having all this talent, favour, anointing, and then getting distracted, wastes your time rather than investing it. If you will use well what God has given you, you know what will happen? God will give you more. When He can trust you to be a good steward of your gifts, and your time, you stay focused, and you get rid of distractions, He will take you further than you have ever dreamed.
But sometimes it’s not the major things that get us distracted, it’s just little things that are taking our time and energy. Jealous of a coworker, competing with someone, trying to prove your worth, and prove your talent. That is a distraction. You are not running their race. The only person you should compete with is yourself. Have a goal to be better next year than you are right now: to be healthier, smarter, more generous, to be closer to God.
And yes we all have hurts, disappointments, and challenges but at some point, you have to move on with your life. The enemy would love to use that hurt to get you distracted, so you live bitter, never expecting anything good. The problem with not letting it go is it’s going to poison the next relationship.
God said He would give you beauty for those ashes but I have learned that you have to let go of the ashes before you will see the beauty. You are not making the most of each day if you are holding on to unforgiveness, trying to pay people back. They hurt you once, don’t let them continue to hurt you by holding on to it.
See, it takes a lot of emotional energy to think about what they did, and how that wasn’t right. You need that energy to love the people God has given you now, to play with your family, and to pursue your dreams. Maybe correcting the distraction is to forgive the person who did you wrong, forgive your parents for what they didn’t give you, and forgive the business partner who cheated you.
Life is too short to carry around the bitterness, and the hurt. Sure we are all going to have these offences, and people saying things that aren’t true, somebody walks away. You can’t stop that from happening but you don’t have to let it stop you. You don’t have to get distracted. You can stay on the best path and trust God to make it up to you.
NABAL’S DISTRACTIONS
In the scripture, David and his 600 men were living out in the countryside. This is when Saul was chasing David. And there was a wealthy man named Nabal who lived close by. He had thousands of sheep and cattle, and David and his army had been protecting Nabal by just being in that area.
Well, it was time for shearing the sheep, the harvest season, so David sent messengers to Nabal asking for food since they had watched over his properties. But Nabal was very rude and harsh, his name means “Fool”, and he lived up to it. He said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his masters. (1 Samuel 25:10)
When they came back with that report, David was furious. He told his men to pack up their belongings, they were going to go take care of Nabal. But here is the key: you are not supposed to fight every battle. Many of the things that come against us are simply distractions. If that battle is not between you and your destiny, you need to ignore it.
That is the enemy trying to get you distracted, involved in conflict that doesn’t matter. You have to ask yourself: are there any spoils? If you win: is it going to move you towards your purpose or is it just going to feed your ego, and make you feel better? One of the enemy’s favourite tools is to bait you into conflict and get you stirred up. Don’t fall into that trap.
Your time is valuable. Your energy, your emotions, you have to be selective about what you give that to. If you make the mistake of fighting every battle, you are not going to have the time or the emotional energy to reach your purpose. The scripture says, “God will silence the lying lips”. If you will ignore it, God will take care of your enemies. (Psalm 31:18)
David headed toward Nabal’s house so upset, full speed ahead, about to make a mistake that would affect his destiny. Here is how good God is: Nabal’s wife met David on the road with all kinds of food and provisions. She bowed down before him, she said, David, you are called to be the king of Israel, why would you even fight with this fool? Don’t let this needless battle be a blemish on your record… (1 Samuel 25:24-31)
Notice, that she called it a needless battle. She knew it was a distraction. David came to his senses and said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!” For if you had not kept me from carrying out vengeance, “surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” (1 Samuel 25:32-34)
In life, we are all going to encounter Nabals. What is that? Nabals are rude people, hard to get along with and stir up trouble. I will ask you what Abigail asked David, “Why are you fighting with a fool? Why are you in conflict with someone who is not between you and your destiny? They are distractions, trying to get you distracted, wasting valuable time and energy that you need for your dreams”.
Had Abigail not intervened and kept David out of that conflict, we might not be talking about David. God will always send you an Abigail to warn you when you are about to get distracted. Maybe today I’m that Abigail, God sent me to remind you not to get baited into conflict.
You could be upset, offended, trying to pay them back. All that is going to do is get you distracted and keep you from the great things God has in store for you. What they say can’t stop your purpose. They may be loud, jealous, and noisy, they are just a Nabal. You keep running your race, focused on what God is calling you to do, and God will take care of the Nabals in your life.
Is there any area in your life you need to come out from distraction and make things right? God’s mercy and grace are available, you just have to tap into it. If you do this, I decree and declare that God is going to help you get back on the best path for your life. The favour, ability and blessing will come forth. You will fulfil your purpose, and become all you were created to be, in Jesus’ name.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’!
