Of all the things that keep us from taking steps to act on the divine burdens God has given us and to make Christ known, perhaps the sneakiest and most dangerous opposition we face is distraction. You see, even good distractions can cause us to lose our focus on the divine burdens God has placed on our hearts. If we want to be successful in acting on our divine burdens, we have to be ready to say "no" to distractions—even good ones—in order to seek God's very best for our lives and to do something about these burdens.
When it comes to saying "no" to distractions that keep us from God's best, Nehemiah set an excellent example for us to follow as he set out to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. We learn in Nehemiah 6 that his enemies got nervous as the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls came to an end. All that was left in their rebuilding was to "set up the doors in the gates" (verse 1). To stop this project from being completed, Nehemiah's enemies decided to distract him by, as we learned during the weekend message, sending an invitation to a peace summit. Four times they sent the same message. Now, a peace summit is not a bad thing, but Nehemiah sensed that they were scheming against him and that he should not stop the rebuilding project that was almost complete (verses 2-4). Nehemiah resolved not to be distracted. Every time his enemies sent him a message inviting them to a peace summit, he said the most remarkable thing: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?" (verse 3). Nehemiah was resolved to continue rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. He would not be distracted by anything. He was solely focused on the “great work” that God had called Him to.
To this day, the enemy's tactics against us as we set out to engage in the great works God has called us to are the same. The enemy still seeks to keep us distracted from acting on our divine burdens. That is why the Scripture warns against distractions in Proverbs 4, saying, "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil" (verses 25-27). The enemy is seeking to keep us from making an impact and acting on our divine burdens, and even good distractions might be just enough to sidetrack us. Let's commit to following this teaching in Proverbs 4, refusing to be sidetracked. After all, we are "engaged in a great work." We must not come down.
What distractions might be keeping you from acting on your divine burden today? Remember, distractions can sometimes even seem like good things. Maybe you have been saying "yes" to too many things, leaving you with no time to act on your divine burden. Maybe you have been distracted by social media or another form of entertainment. Identify what is distracting you and acknowledge it to the Lord. Commit to letting go of that distraction so that you can keep engaging in the "great work" that God has called you to.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, as I consider the distractions keeping me from acting on the divine burdens You have given me, I confess…”
1My children, listen when your father corrects you.
Pay attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn away from my instructions.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
