“Interference!”  Devotional #32

Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Florida!  My family and I were at our son's baseball game.  It was a good game.  Our other two kids were behaving.  My husband and I were having a nice time.  On our son’s second time at bat all eyes were on him. The parents and team were cheering him on. Then after several pitches it was three balls and two strikes.  There was one man on base.  If our son got a hit or a homerun it would have given his team an opportunity to catch up.  The crowd on both sides of the field grew quiet.  The pitcher was getting into his stance.  He was about to pitch when out of nowhere a really loud car alarm started to sound! It was so loud that everyone stopped to look at what was going on.  It distracted everyone from the game!  How interesting!  Even though the game had everyone's attention the sound of the alarm quickly took everyone's attention away.  This form of distraction was the one that “diverts attention: something that interferes with concentration or takes attention away from something else.” (From the Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)

We face distractions every single day.  These distractions can be anything from a baby crying in the middle of the night to a car alarm going off in the middle of a ball game.  There are also distractions that forcibly get our attention, even if it’s just for a moment.  Here’s the thing, Satan uses distractions to pull our attention off of what we’re trying to do right (living in obedience) and tries to place our attention on something else.  A distraction can lead to temptation which leads to one of two things a sin or running away from sin.  For example, let’s say both you and your spouse are convicted that you need to be better stewards with the money He provides you.  The both of you pray over how to do this and you are led to establish a sound budget and because of said budget neither of you can buy absolutely anything outside of the needs of the family for the month.  You both pray about this and ask for the Lord’s leading and wisdom on how to better manage the family income.

The weekend comes and you are out with the family, including your spouse.  You’re all at the mall for lunch (which you did budget for).  As you are all walking over to the Food Court all of you see a sign that says, “HUGE SALE, EVERYTHING HALF OFF OR LESS!”  Everyone stops.  None of you can believe what you are seeing!  This is the store that has the big screen 3-D high-definition television you have all been wanting and it’s on sale for half the cost!  Everyone starts chiming in with their reasons of why this television is “needed.”  Both you and your spouse find yourselves wondering what to do and you are trying to justify purchasing it.  What happened? 

The distraction was the sign that stopped everyone.  The temptation was the sale of the much desired television.  The next thing would be what?  If you were to go in and spend the money you both agreed could not be spent then you will have gone back on your word and over your budget, which means that you will have more “month” left at the end of the month instead of money.  If you do not have the money to cover the cost and use a credit card then that means a new bill would be created, a bill that you have no money to pay.  If you succumb to the temptation then it would be a sin.  Why would this be considered a sin? It would be a sin because you went back on your word and misused the income that was for your needs and not your desires.

My friend, I have encountered these distractions many times in my life!  I know that these distractions are merely just that, distractions but, if I pay mind to it, just enough to start getting tempted then the devil has gotten my attention!  Ephesians 4:27, “do not give the devil a foothold.” (NIV)  A foothold is: “firm base for progress: a secure starting position from which further advances can be made.” (From the Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.) Remember that Satan is always looking for a way to get us to sin.  1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  (GNT)  We need to be vigilant and ready to stand our ground and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:11, “Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks.” (GNT)  So when the distractions from Satan come, stand firm and choose obedience.  Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (NIV)

 

My dear friend, thank you for reading this devotional.  Know that I appreciate you and am praying for you.  Thanks for passing on this blog to others!  Please continue to pass it on.  Also, I have a Facebook page for the ministry!  It’s a great way to get updates on the ministry and when the latest devotionals have been posted on this blog.  I also started posting “Thought of the day.” They’re short reads and have gotten great reviews.  Come and join by pressing “like!” on the page:  www.facebook.com/ReflectingTruthMinistries  God bless you!

*If you would like to read this same devotional in Spanish or know of someone that would please visit my Spanish blog at www.ministerioreflejandolaverdad.blogspot.com