They vie for your attention. You cannot give it to them.
It is an episode referred to often when looking at the life of Nehemiah. That episode namely being how he was being enticed to leave his work to deal with distractions deliberately set up by his opponents. Some of those who opposed him were some of his own kinsmen. He was wise to the tactic, though and reinforced the will to crack on with the priority.
I can get distracted. Some of the things that vie for my attention are sincere and well-meaning. Others would consider them to be reasonable in demanding attention from me. That’s for others to say from their perspective. It’s for me to understand from my perspective if it really is the case that I should divert energy to it. That word is crucial – divert. For that means that what was referring the attention is now no longer getting as much of me as it was before. In my life what’s happened is that if I attend to one thing then another thing that’s reasonable to attend to will crop up and before I know it, the real thrust and focus and the central core of action and activity will be severely depleted. Sure, other things might have received attention for all the good it does them, but that central core activity that should define who I am will be neglected.
When that happens, I go about with recriminations and remorse until I’m reminded that God only looks for repentance. Turning again to Him and switching all my attention to what He has called me to do for His honour and His glory. I am not the everyman, I’m not the one called to fill in the gap or to attend to those areas. No. That’s not me. I am called to be and called to do all that is pleasing to the One who has called me. He leaves me in no doubt as to the nature of what that is, especially when I listen carefully and wait attentively.
As thriving depends on abiding in Christ and as abiding in Christ leads to fruit-bearing for Him, so this will help with the call to focus. As focus is placed solely on Him and what He calls for in the given situation so that should help to ward off that which vies for the attention and diverts the energy from what is His to what’s not the priority as far as He’s concerned.
There’s an element of that which has inspired these reflections and journals on the journey. The element that on reflection I’ve been too easily diverting attention recently and I really desire to repent and walk with Him on this journey along the paths He’s set with the steps He’s ordered.
It’s an honour and delight to follow Him and as He leads me, I know I won’t stray. So being prone to wonder is an issue that’s addressed by fixing the gaze on Him and once more knowing that this walk requires focus.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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