Delightful Distractions
By
Susan Klein
“Be
still before the Lord….”
Psalm
37:7a (NIV)
I don’t know about you,
but it seems whenever I decide to have some quiet time with the Lord,
distractions are sure to follow. Most are little annoyances like a ringing
phone or buzzing clothes dryer, and can usually be turned off or ignored. But
some distractions can be downright enjoyable! How can I resist an adorable
little feline who decides to playfully roll around in my lap, begging for
attention? Or how do I not pause to focus on the unexpected deer outside the
window? And whose nose can resist the tempting aroma of cookies fresh out of
the oven? What’s a girl to do?!!
Let me share a few
thoughts on this. First, God desires for us to enjoy His creation. Taking a
momentary pause to scratch the chin of my kitty for a few seconds or admire the
family of deer outside the window won’t dismay my heavenly Father. I believe it
delights Him to see us delighting in the things He has created.
However, in my feminine
humanness, I can allow myself to get absorbed in my “momentary” distraction. A
few seconds can become a few minutes and even lead to other distractions along
the way. I abandon my Bible to run for my camera before the deer get away. Or,
I give in to the tempting aroma of the coffee cake, only to discover the dirty
dishes in the sink that need tending to and an unfinished grocery list staring
back at me. I leave my Father waiting...occasionally never getting back to Him
at all.
Sometimes, I find it
best to heed Jesus’ advice on prayer. In Matthew 6:6, He instructs His
followers to enter into their prayer closet and close the door before they
pray. While His instruction is meant to teach them to not be ostentatious
before others in their prayers, I believe we can glean another lesson from this
passage. When we want some serious time with our God, let’s get to a place
where there are no distractions. A closet is not only a private place, but it
is also generally a small, nondescript room with no windows and nothing in
particular to draw our attention. While I wouldn’t sit in an actual closet, I
can do things like close the blinds or put the cats in another room. If I am
intentional in preparing my quiet place, it will not only allow me to focus my
attention on my Father, but also to focus on what He’s trying to share with me.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What are some
proactive steps you can take to ensure quality “quiet time” with God?
2. Do you have some
tips you could share with a friend who might be struggling with distractions?
FURTHER READING:
Susan
enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and mentoring. She and her husband Mark
enjoy opening their home to those in need.
