Facebook to my left and Instagram to my right

I have had times in my life where I clearly heard God telling me to take a break from Facebook. You can read about how I have a hard time hearing anything over my screaming voice here. We all know the pull it can have, the way it can kill an hour of our time without our even realizing it, the way it can bring us down when we see negative people posting. 

I am not saying it’s all bad, because there are a lot of good that can come from it, but just like with anything, we have to be purposeful on how we choose to use it. Same with instagram, pinterest, or any other thing.

Oh, and before you let out that sigh of relief because you don’t have a Facebook or instagram? Think again. Distractions in our lives are most definitely not limited to social media. As if. 

There is a verse in Proverbs that says “Do not turn to the right or to the left. Keep your foot from evil.” Another translation words it “Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil”. 

This verse kept coming back to me because I have been thinking about distractions. This week? I placed Facebook to my left and instagram to my right. If I’m being totally honest, I need to say that I was finding myself randomly scrolling through Facebook several. And I mean several times a day. I knew it was for no reason, and I knew there were other things I needed to be doing. And if it wasn’t Facebook, it was pinterest, or instagram, or amazon (people. You can get Amazon prime free for 30 days and you get free 2-day shipping! Say what?! All of a sudden, I need so many things!) See what I mean? Distractions.

Anything can become a distraction.

There are other weeks when it is my business. The whole entire thing…distracting me from the things in my life that I value as much, much more important than money and popularity.

Then there are times when it can be exercise, tv, friends, even ministry. Ministry is good. It is necessary. But it is not more necessary than doing what I was created to do: bring glory to God.

He doesn’t need my work. He doesn’t need my efforts. He just needs me to stop looking to my left. To stop looking to my right. Because when I start looking to my right and my left? It slows me down. So bad. I get sidetracked, distracted, and I lose focus. I do not want to lose focus.

Because when I keep myself focused on that one relationship, my relationship with God, everything else falls into its proper order and life is good. Life may not be smooth and perfect, but it is good.

Contrary to the pure nonsense Victoria Osteen has been proclaiming, God is not happiest when I am happy. 

No. God is happy when I am obeying. And the best way I can obey is to make sure I am listening to his voice.

So what is on your left, and what is on your right? Are you being distracted? Is it time to get rid of something? Do it! Right now! Make a decision to get rid of any distractions and start listening and obeying. Life is so much better when you do!