What a distraction

This week at our bible study, we continued in our series on worship , and one of the questions was

"What hinders you from fully entering into worship?"

We discussed it in small groups and then came back together to feedback.

There were a variety of answers, including things like not liking the songs or style of worship in a church setting, being embarrassed in front of others or not feeling like it, but one theme kept recurring, whether for personal moments of worship, or corporately, every single group reported that the biggest hindrance to fully engaging in worship was about being distracted.

I want to think about that.  In Luke 10:38-42 (NLT) we read "...Martha welcomed him (Jesus) into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

In Hebrews 12:1 (see picture) the writer exhorts us to strip off the weight that slows us down so that we might fully and completely run the race of faith.   That word weight can be translated as a hindrance. While I realize that 'distractions' may not have been the intended target of that word, it is clear to me, that in the modern world we have so much that is designed to stimulate, distract or divert our attention, that we need to do something intentional to enable us to fully enter in to daily worshipping Jesus, and not let those things prevent us moving forward.

The verse says that we are to strip off or put away all the hindrances.  This is something God doesn't do for us!  Sometimes we pray for something like say "Lord, speak to me" or "Show me what to do in this situation, but we're not prepared to put away the distractions and listen.  In verse 2 of Hebrews 12, it tells us the solution to this situation is to look to Jesus!  It's a choice.  It's not complicated.  We need to be like Mary, and sit at the feet of Jesus and focus and listen.

Today, if you find that distractions occupy your time and mind, it's time to make a decision to focus on Jesus and then do it! Switch of the TV, put the book down, log out of Facebook.  Don't wait until conditions are more favourable, or look to 'start tomorrow'.  Do what you need to do today to focus on Jesus, his kindness, goodness and love. As you do that, worship will flow and that will help in every area of your life.