Practical Ways to Beat Distraction

Allow me to share some practical ways on how to beat distraction.

1. The internet is a great blessing but it can also be a major distraction.

How do we deal with it?

Go Offline

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” (Mark 1:35-37)

Lord Jesus had a regular habit of waking early in the morning for an undistracted quality time with His Heavenly Father. In today’s terminology, He went offline - off the grid. How do I know that? The disciples tried to contact Him and could not. Notice what they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

Let’s learn from the Master, when you are praying, turn that phone off. There are many that keep checking their phone even while they are praying. A phone buzzing with notifications is a great distraction. No wonder you don't make that connection with the Lord.

Students, when you are studying that important lesson, turn that phone off. It will help you focus on what you are doing and you will get it done faster and better.

Social media is a great fellowship and outreach tool. In these times, it greatly helps to stay in touch etc. But then it is also a great distraction. People spend hours on social media and have a messed up schedule. Going offline for sometime till you finish your priorities will help you get in the right direction faster.

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6)

You see, Jesus clearly mentioned shutting the door, shutting the door to the distractions that would hinder you from making that vital connection with Him. 

2. Plan your day the night before 

Distractions can easily disguise themselves as urgent and important and it becomes difficult to identify them. Having a schedule will help you identify distractions and deal with them.

31In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (John 4:31,34)

Jesus had a schedule that was given to Him by the Father. He called this schedule the will of the Father. Because Jesus had a schedule He could identify what was a distraction and what was not.