Don’t get sidetracked ∙∙

Don’t get sidetracked ∙∙

Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. – Proverbs 4:27

Jeremiah 15:19 If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

Getting sidetracked is a universal occurrence that can affect anyone. Our attention diverts from the primary task or objective, often toward matters of lesser significance. Consequently, our intended accomplishments are left incomplete.

Our original intentions and aspirations tend to fall by the wayside. We lose focus. We get off the main highway and begin to follow bunny trails. Frequently, we remain oblivious to this process as it unfolds. Recognizing the shift that has occurred takes time, leaving us slightly bewildered. This state of confusion can easily give rise to feelings of frustration and annoyance.

As we progress in age, these instances of diversion seem to become more commonplace. For example, we might enter a room only to forget momentarily why we did. But be of good cheer; forgetting a few things is not a sign of early-onset dementia. But if it’s ever happened to you, it sometimes feels like it.

Like the United States Marines, the Father is looking for a few good men and women. During Old Testament times, there was a special subset among the children of the King: His servants, the prophets. The Father’s prophets were His representatives, His emissaries. They were often sent to deliver a message. They could not be easily deferred. They did not back down or get sidetracked. They remained resolute in steadfast.

The Father explained this to Jeremiah simply and succinctly as a part of his prophetic commission.

Jeremiah 15:19 “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!

The book of Proverbs is full of Solomon’s great wisdom. It was parsimoniously summarized in Proverbs 4.

Proverbs 4:23-27

 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

 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.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father uses distractions to urge us into a deeper relationship with Him.

Father it is so easy to be sidetracked and get off course. Help me to respond better to the vicissitudes of everyday life. Help me not to be discouraged by the frustrations and disappointments I encounter.

INSIGHT

To avoid being sidetracked, developing the skill of focused concentration is essential. It should be a top priority. Staying on task requires discipline and practice. Learning to focus and stay focused is a science and art that can be learned. How can we diminish getting sidetracked? By learning to deal with distractions effectively. This often leads to improved focus and increased effectiveness. Here are a few suggestions:

Avoid panic

Confusion and the feeling of losing control can lead to panic. There is often a lot of blaming and self-condemnation. Negative emotions only make matters worse. On the contrary, positive feelings and thoughts yield contrasting outcomes.

What can be done? How do we avoid a downward negative spiral? For children of the King, reading and meditating on the Scriptures can be quite calming to the spirit and soothing to the soul. Revisiting the Father’s promises in the face of our irritations can break the power of our errant propensities. As we turn irritations, frustrations, and burdens over to the Father, He assumes responsibility for our well-being.

Psalms 27:13 Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?

Slow down

Distractions are always crouching at the door: conflicting thoughts, uncontrollable emotions, bothersome sounds, offenses, slights, or minor interruptions.

What can we do? So, how can we combat these distractions? To safeguard our focus from being snatched away, it’s essential to take control. We’re presented with two primary choices: disregard the distraction or set a mental placeholder and deal with the distraction. Once the distraction is handled, we can then seamlessly realign our focus.

Psalms 66:9 Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

Take a break

There are moments when we just run out of gas mentally, and our focus and concentration diminish, causing our focus and concentration to wane. During these periods, we can shift our attention to a temporary new activity, granting our mind a much-needed break. Engaging in physical activity frequently facilitates a reset. A fascinating phenomenon occurs when we intentionally redirect our focus to another task – our brain continues its problem-solving efforts on an unconscious level. As a result, we often find ourselves inundated with novel ideas and potential solutions upon returning to the original challenge.

Psalms 119:67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me, but now I closely follow your word.

God uses discipline, not as a whip to force us in line, but as a messenger to urge us back into a safe place. Correction is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God (Stanley).

Jeremiah 15:19 If you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman.

The prophets had a special responsibility to live a life without compromise. This commitment extended to their thoughts and expressions. What really mattered? The precious! They needed to develop the skill of learning to extract the precious from the worthless. To accurately represent the Father and be His spokesman, literally His mouth, they had to live by a higher standard. They could not entertain worthless ideas and speak meaningless words.

The same is true for any child of the King. How well are you doing at extracting the precious from the worthless?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-15-1

© Dr. H 2023