I am so sorry I have been M.I.A. I let the busyness of starting a new school year, changing schools, changing job titles, raising four kids, finishing my Masters and trying to maintain healthy friendships come before this. Yes, it sounds like a mouth full but I was never created for just that.  I let my worldly distractions come before doing what God commanded me to do. Come before being his servant leader. Come before being used as his vessel.  I got distracted. It’s easy and often tempting. The allure of social media, the complexities of kids activities, the desire to the best at your craft, the pull to be everything to everyone.  Nothing is wrong with those things but they cause a distraction. We have this idea we need to fill every second with something. We have to be the perfect parent, employee, and friend. This lie helps keep us distracted.  We get sucked into this mundane existence of busyness, over scheduling and stretching ourselves thin. The world’s demands are challenging and frustrating. They keep us preoccupied. When you do take a breather to not have your kids and family involved in anything you are called out for being lazy. That’s the enemy’s purpose. He wants to keep Christians distracted. To get a pulled away from having quiet moments that allow the holy spirit to minister to your heart. We are so distracted and preoccupied that we ignore that tugging feeling that tells you to stop and minister to that person. Pray for the person. Pour into that person.  Take a step back from yourself and serve that person.

In John 10:10 it says “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy”.  The word destroy means to ruin (someone) emotionally or spiritually. To utterly defeat someone. To put an end to the existence of something. To devour and annihilate.  That’s what they enemy sets out to do every second of every day. To kill our purpose. To steal our focus. To destroy our witness.  Think about how distracted we are as Christ followers. The magnitude of our distraction. If only 1/8 of Christians refocused their priorities think about the impact we could have on humanity. Our schools. Our jobs. Our community. Our friends. Our homes.

What if God treated us the same way we do him. What if he got distracted? What if he got so preoccupied meeting our neighbor’s needs that he ignored ours. What if he got distracted while you were praying for your spouse’s first job interview after being unemployed for six months. What if he got distracted while the doctor read the results of your biopsy. What if he got distracted while a weary childless couple prayed to fill his barren wife’s womb after years of failure. What if he got distracted during a widowers cry of comfort in the midst of devastating pain and heartache. What if he got distracted while a teenager begs God to remove the bullies before they take their own life. What if he was so distracted during our humble plead for salvation and forgiveness.  What if he treated us the same way we do him.

There will never be another moment like this.  That person may never cross your path again. That conversation may be your only opportunity.  I overheard a student tell another one “if they didn’t follow the rules they would not reach their full potential.”  Let us as Christ followers meet our full potential. Being Lions and Lionesses who are hungry to serve and devour Gods word. To keep our eyes, hearts and ears focused on our Father and not that of this world.  Let us not be destroyed, distracted and ignoring our full potential. Let us continue to be light and love.