Satan is threatened when we are busy for God, chasing purpose and yielding to the fullness of God’s will for our lives,
What he is never threatened by, however, is our busyness.
This is because he knows that, once he has pulleyed us in, it’s just a matter of time and our zeal and commitment to God will wither and fall off.
Satan’s pull is distraction: anything but the will of God that occupies our time. No matter how zealous we are about it, it makes no positive impact in our lives and God’s kingdom.
Distractions are always subtle.
They can manifest as a hobby you are giving unhealthy amount of time to, religious commitments that deprive us quality fellowship with God, or a demanding job that seems good in the books but drains us, incapacitating our ability to truly love beyond pay checks.
They can look like habits that seem harmless but gulp a large chunk of our time daily, hindering productivity, or relationships that do nothing but water down our yieldedness and commitment to God and purpose.
And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone…
1 Kings 20:40 (KJV)
Being busy does not equal productivity or alignment with God’s original design for our lives. We can be busy and diligent pursuing distractions, ignoring or ignorant of purpose and God’s will.
How do we fall for this trap of Satan?
When we lack an understanding of God’s design for our lives. When we think God’s will isn’t good enough, see God’s plan as impossible, too good for us or beyond us. When we regard the sacrifice and discipline it requires too great for us to pay.
What have you been pursuing all day or since the year began? What are you busy doing right down? God’s will or harmless distractions?
Remember, we will give account to God on how we lived our lives. Did we waste it chasing distractions, or pursuing God’s original design for our lives? Did we seek to know God’s purpose and chase it with great vigour, or did we settle for mediocrity?
God wants us to focus our full attention on Him, so we must resolve to take practical steps to shun the distractions that easily beset us, turning us away from God’s purpose.
Shut down the apps that keeps us wrongfully busy, shut out bad relationships and contents that subtly turn our hearts away from God, put an end to seemingly spiritual activities or busyness that redirect our focus from God’s original purpose for our lives to our selfish ambitions, society’s pressures or expectations.
This year is not just a new year. It is a second chance at righting the wrongs, distractions cost us in the past years.
We don’t have to do everything we failed to do in the past this years, but we must resolve never to allow distraction win for a day this year.
Because, if we will live fully and be bold enough to face our maker at the end our earthly sojourn, we must be profitable servants, who gives their best pursuing God’s original design for our lives and His kingdom (Matthew 25:20-21).
When the curtains of our lives close in finality, may we be worthy of the commendation of the One who gave us the privilege to live and become.
May we hear:
‘…Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
Matthew 25:21 (NLT)
Thank you so much! Distractions can be subtle. They can be covered under the cloak of legitimacy.
This is really insightful and reflective. Satan doesn’t mind us busy… We must be discerning and choose daily to walk circumspectly.
“Distractions are subtle” this is so real! And busyness outside of God’s will is basically just wasting one’s life. I pray that the Lord will help us walk according to his will this year.
Thank you so much for sharing!
So many instructions for me personally. God helps me, and God bless you. Thank you.