This is a writing shared to several of us by a friend; who had it emailed to her by her brother I have edited it just a bit to better fit Karen's Korner format.

A Prayer to Seek the Lord During Distractions
by Chelsey De Matteis

"Distractions are inevitable. Throughout the Bible, we are told that not only will distractions come, but they will be used by the enemy to knock us off course. Thankfully, God has shown us how to battle these distractions.

"Nehemiah was a man in the Bible who dealt with persistent distractions from his enemies, who attempted to stop the work God had called Him to do.

"Satan’s distractions are the same today as they were back then. He doesn't have creativity. But he is cunning and cutting. He seeks to unearth old pain. He targets the same insecurity, the same lie that was once told, or the same mistakes of our past. Satan will use whatever causes us to pause, drop, or stop the work of our hands for the Kingdom of God.

"When we look at Nehemiah’s story, we see these same tactics. Persistent distractions orchestrated the same way each time. Five times to be exact, that his enemies sent for him. Each time desiring to stop the work that God has commanded of him to do in Jerusalem.

"Nehemiah, through his strength in the Lord, called them out for being the lying, fear enticers that they were, and asked the Lord to strengthen his hands. He was able to discern his enemy’s schemes because of his deep relationship with the Lord. He knew what God had called Him to and he was not going to stop the work of his hands until God said so. These persistent distractions didn’t line up with the characteristics of God’s heart. Nehemiah only knew that because, he knew His father and trusted His heart. hands. 

"As distractions come, we need to begin taking note of them. Write down what the topic is, how it makes you feel, and when it seems to happen most often. In my experience, it shows so clearly the tactics the enemy is deploying. Just like Nehemiah, we need to turn them over to the Lord and ask Him to strengthen my hands and my obedience to Him."

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"Lord, this season has felt like a never-ending scheme of distractions. Father, stir up in me the reminder to write down the topics, feelings, and seasons which come to me most. I pray that as I grow in my awareness of these distractions in my life, that I will more quickly hand them over to you and seek your truth.

"Thank you for being a good Father who desires nothing more than for His children to turn to Him in all moments of our days. Help me to do that this today.

In Jesus’s name, Amen."

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