Death by Distractionعينة

As we close this reading plan up, let’s recap: • Distractions lead to death • Distraction is a work of the devil • Desperation leads to change • Change takes place at the intersection of awareness and action • Detractors are the people, places, and things that get us off our God-given path So even with all this knowledge we still need a remedy. It’s great to know that distractions can destroy us, but how do we begin to distance ourselves from the distraction and move ever closer to our destiny? It’s a simple word that’s easy to say but can be difficult to embody: Love. Yes, love. Simply love. What I remembered that night on my run and during my cooldown time was this: Jesus has given us a command about how to live. We just read it together, but here it is again, from Matthew 22: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Loving your neighbor as yourself is your remedy. Our goal in overcoming distractions is to choose the correct action, and according to Jesus, the right action is always love. Love of others, and love of yourself. You love yourself by choosing to put yourself in a position to live your best life. You love yourself by surrounding yourself with positive people, not distractors. You love yourself by putting yourself in the best places to live free and stay free. You love yourself by removing things that bring you down and keep you stuck. Loving yourself is the key to staying focused and not living distracted. Loving your neighbor as yourself means it’s okay to walk away from people who don’t want what God has planned for you, who want to keep you stuck in the land of distractions. Jesus clearly told us to LOVE. Love is always our response. But love can mean walking away when it’s necessary. Love means loving yourself and God enough to stay on MISSION and to lose the detractors that lead to distraction! How will you love yourself past your distractions? How will you love others in the fulfillment of your destiny? How will you live a life of love? Focus up. Love yourself. Lay aside the distractions. Your calling is worth it. Distraction leads to death. Love leads to life.