If God has called you to do something long-term, chances are, He has a whole series of steps lined up to get you there. I used to think I was waiting on Him, but more often than not, He’s waiting on me. He’s already told me the next step, maybe something as simple as spending a little more time in His Word, even if it’s just one verse a day.
But what keeps us from taking that next step? Why does it feel like we’re constantly falling behind? The answer is simple: distractions. They sneak in, slow us down, and take our eyes off what really matters.
Let’s start with 1 Corinthians 7:35 (AMP):
“Now I say this for your own welfare and profit, not to put a halter of restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly and in good order and to secure your undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord.”
Although Paul was speaking in the context of marriage, his call to live undistracted and undivided applies to all of us. And let’s be honest, distractions have never been more abundant. From flashing billboards to endless phone notifications, they’re everywhere.
Hebrews 12:1 (AMP) also gives us a clear visual:
“Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily, deftly, and cleverly clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.”
To run our race well, we have to identify and remove these encumbrances—our distractions.
One of the biggest distractions is fear—especially financial fear. Waking up to an empty bank account can dominate your thoughts all day. And when you're stuck in worry, it’s hard to hear what the Holy Spirit is trying to say, much less minister to the people around you.
Fear can also stem from sickness or anything else that steals your joy. The enemy wants nothing more than to keep you so distracted by your circumstances that you miss the opportunity to impact the people God puts in your path.
Sometimes sin isn’t the big, obvious stuff. Sometimes it’s ignoring the Holy Spirit when He prompts you to put your phone down. Even what feels like a small disobedience can weigh you down, like trying to run a marathon while carrying a Big Gulp.
Sin is always a lie. The enemy promises something at the end of the temptation that never delivers. Instead of meditating on God’s Word, you’re stuck mulling over guilt, shame, or regret. It keeps your attention off where it should be: on Jesus.
Let’s be real—people can be a major distraction. I had a buddy who, every time he showed up, it felt like a time vortex opened. Sweet guy, but he’d show up right when I was gaining momentum spiritually and, before I knew it, I was off course again.
Not every person is your assignment. Make sure the Holy Spirit is leading those interactions. If you try to force something that’s not from Him, it pulls you out of alignment with where He’s leading you.
I once sold a lawn mower on Facebook Marketplace and the guy came back saying he felt ripped off. I’d done everything right—disclosed everything and sold it fairly. But his comment stuck with me and ate at my peace.
That’s how the enemy works. The Holy Spirit will bring conviction and then give you a solution. The enemy just brings accusation and leaves you stuck with it. If a voice in your head is telling you “you’re a punk” with no way out, that’s not God.
If the Holy Spirit has already shown you the next step, make it your top priority. That means choosing time with Him over your phone, over your work, even over worrying. I don’t even bring my phone into my prayer time. It doesn’t belong in the same room as my conversation with God.
2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) says:
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity… but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
Once you know your priority, use discipline to make it happen. Don’t let prayer and Scripture time be optional. Make it non-negotiable.
This one is the anchor. Numbers 21:9 (AMP) describes a moment when those who looked at the bronze serpent—a foreshadowing of Jesus—“attentively, expectantly, and with a steady and absorbing gaze… lived.”
In John 3:14–15 (AMP), Jesus refers back to this and says:
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert on a pole, so must the Son of Man be lifted up… so that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.”
If you’ll keep your eyes on Jesus—attentively, expectantly, and with steady focus—He’ll help you let go of every distraction.
If you're not sure where to begin, just ask Him. He loves helping you. He’s not demanding religious performance—He just wants to be with you. And He’ll help you strip off anything that’s holding you back.
