Don’t Get Sidetracked

I drove across the state to get to a Pastor’s Conference. My plan was to get to the hotel first, check in, and then join the others for the evening meal. I left plenty of time to accomplish that. The problem is, a couple of things came up that I needed to attend to and by the time I got to the town I was headed for, I just barely got there in time for the meal. It wasn’t a planned interference, but it threw the schedule off anyway. Have you ever experienced those pesky distractions? Maybe you are doing things around the house or out in the garage. There is a specific task in mind. As you begin the work, you get sidetracked by this and then that and then.... I hear people say that they were just multitasking. The reading that I have done indicates that multitasking usually takes longer than focusing just on tasks. I know there are exceptions, but staying focused can be very beneficial. I sometimes find that happening when I try to study God’s word. I start in one place, and then it reminds me of something else. By the time I follow those rabbit trails, I don’t get the original work done and only have bits and pieces of other things. There are also times that God puts a name on my heart or there is something I know that I should do, and for whatever reason, I find other things that I need to do (which were important) and run out of time to do what I had planned. My delay might reduce the benefit it might have been. Was my delay a genuine need, or was I avoiding what was set before me? I think the Devil likes to play games with us, trying to set us up to fall or fail. After stating the importance of not getting sidetracked, there are times that we need to be open to the possibility that our plan is just that...ours. If it is our schedule, and not something that we feel God leading us too, God may have different plans. Just be available to God’s leading. I am not trying to confuse you, but rather warning that we must differentiate between our priority and God’s call. I bet Jonah was busy when God called him to go to Nineveh. Moses was busy when God called him to go to Egypt to set God’s people free. The disciples were busy when Jesus called them to follow Him. Stay focused but also stay available so that you might not miss opportunities. Father, clear my mind of earthly wants and desires and tune my heart and mind to Your will and desire. To You be glory. Amen