The Garden: Ways to Overcome Fear, Anxiety, and StressSample

## The 4th D: DISTRACT/FOCUS A distraction is anything keeping you from what matters most. Distractions are the enemy of greatness. They often begin as small and harmless diversions but can quickly grow into something disastrous. For example, you buy a cool and expensive car. Before you know it, you are in major debt, working harder and harder to accumulate more rather than spending time with your loved ones and those who love you. In the story of Adam and Eve, the fruit was pleasing to the eye and very desirable. It looked amazing, and Eve wanted it, so she believed the enemy’s lies and ate the fruit. Then she gave it to Adam to eat as well. The enemy is a master of distraction. He gets our attention with things pleasing to the eye but distracts us from what matters most. So what matters most to God? What matters most is: 1\. Your relationship with God. 2\. Becoming all that God created you to be. 3\. Your relationship with others. > 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.’ Matthew 22:37-39 The enemy will distract you by focusing on all the things that don’t matter instead of what does. The solution to avoiding distractions is to FOCUS, focus on God. Focus on loving, honoring, and obeying Him, and becoming all you are meant to be. Focus on your relationship with others. When we focus on God and His love, fear and other worries and distractions have no power over us. It is important to remember that so many things seem bright, shiny, and appealing. Still, the only thing that will fill you up and your soul truly longs for is a relationship with God and a loving relationship with others. If God is filling you up, you don’t need any other artificial source to feel good. Going Deeper: What are specific ways you can focus more on what matters most? Prayer: Tell God about your distractions. Ask Him to help you stay focused on what matters most: Your relationship with God. Becoming all that God created you to be. Your relationship with others.