Steve Lyston | Distractions and missed opportunities

Nobody wants to experience or even hear the words denial, defeat , or delay. We all want to hear positive words like access, approval, success, winning, and the list goes on. The greatest hindrance, however, in experiencing success is the word distraction. Recognise that distractions come about in many ways.

 

Technology and social network

 

Cell phones/iPhones, tablets/iPads, smart watches, smart televisions, MP3 players, video gaming, online dating services, social media have all become permanent staples in our social lives, to the point of addiction, and many today can't seem to do without any, if not, all of these.

Most pastors and politicians are closer to their cell phones than to their wives or children, or to God, It would be interesting to know of the men and women of God, when was the last time they seriously went into the presence of God? Because only in God's presence will any of us get the necessary solutions we seek. Everything that we need can only be found in the presence of God. Matthew 6:33 reminds us of this. So the very thing that was developed to assist us has now become gods to many of us.

Many companies, especially media organisations, when they are losing market share because of online competitors, assume that it is as a result of content presentation or what they believe are lacklustre online marketing strategies.

 

PUT DOWN THE PHONE

 

But if they would just put down their cell phones and tablets for a week and get in the presence of God and get new inspiration and ideas from the source - as did the business people of the past- they may very well be amazed at the abundance of ideas they would have. They need to call a retreat - no cell phones, no tablets, in fact, no technology; they would be positively surprised at the results.

Likewise, if the church leaders and politicians started seeking God again without the distraction of mainstream media (CNN, FOX etc), Wall Street's stock market analyses, or even of the exchange rates and sliding dollars, then they would be able to see more clearly the bigger picture of what is ahead and how to capitalise on such things. The cell phones and tablets are not even holy instruments - they were not consecrated for a purpose. So if you choose to read the scriptures on those devices in lieu of the holy and inspired book containing the Word of God, what stops the pop-ups that remind you to buy sex somewhere, or tell you it's okay to masturbate? What stops the phone calls from coming in or the social media from sending you reminders? What stops the distractions and allows you to enter the presence of God to get strategies you need to overcome your daily battles and achieve success?

 

People can also be distractions

 

There is a great deal of 'noise' in our society today, and it influences what and how we listen and read.

These distractions can also lead to deception. When promotions or opportunities come, people can lead you away from it without you realising until it's too late. Recognise that when God wants to promote you, he sends/allows people to facilitate it. When the devil wants to stop that promotion, he sends people to distract you. Delilah was Samson's distraction and it took away his strength, discernment and joy, and caused him to make wrong choices and be defeated. Oftentimes, when people don't want you to see, know or understand what is going on (or what they are doing), they 'create' the noise - the distraction to shift your focus so that you cannot see the bigger picture. Political strategists, for example, are now getting whipped because they became distracted by their opponents' ploys and were focused on the weaknesses they saw in their opponents.

Meanwhile, those opponents had their own strategies behind the scenes, and so these political strategists missed the mark.

They did not discern the difference between the battle and the war. Ask any military strategist - you may lose some battles, but you cannot afford to lose the war. Some people get excited about midterms, but fail to watch for the 'end of term'.

Even sports persons get distracted and lose the race when it counts most.

- Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.