Creating Captivating Clarityনমুনা

Beware of distractions

The enemy of clarity is distraction. A Harvard study recently shared that, on average, our minds are lost in thought 47% of the time and mind-wandering is a direct cause of unhappiness. It went on to say that most people focus attention on one thing for just 40 seconds before giving attention to something else. 

Experiencing captivating clarity in our lives requires us to do one thing and keep doing that one thing—turning towards God. Distraction can keep you from turning towards God the first time, or even the 100th time, in part because we live in a culture that provides opportunities to be easily distracted.

I took my daughter to get her annual "back to school" hairstyle, which was a flat ironed, straight style. Usually, I braid it for protection from the elements, and she rarely sees how long it is. After her stylist washed and conditioned her hair, she began blow drying it and then, in small sections, began flat ironing her hair at a high temperature. We told her to stay very still so she wouldn't get burned, but like a typical little girl, she was distracted from our instructions and just had to peek in the mirror to see how long her hair was. When she moved her head suddenly, she winced when she felt the heat of that flat iron on her scalp. 

Sometimes, we get ahead of God when we get distracted, and the primary culprit is impatience. Impatience causes you to move suddenly, which can sometimes cause you pain. Impatience is a restlessness that causes you to make a move you weren't ready for, especially when you think there's a delay in receiving what God promised you.

Impatience distracts you from clarity in three ways:

Being compelled to see what God isn't ready for you to see yet

The desire to know the outcome and how everything is going to work out

The need to experience results NOW because you want to skip “this part”

If you want clarity, you must become intentional about releasing impatience by turning towards God every day. Distraction has less of a hold in your mind when you turn towards God. Begin with 5 minutes of prayer and meditation (meditation on God's Word) every morning and add time from there. Remember, as you turn towards God, He will do the transformation work in you. 

For me, this looks like settling my mind in Christ each morning with scripture that counters the thoughts that cause me to prioritize God lower than my daily tasks. 

So how can you intentionally create space to listen to God?

1. Schedule intimate prayer and meditation on God’s Word daily 

2. Choose a scripture in the Bible that is counter to the thoughts that cause you to worry or lack clarity 

3. Read and focus on that scripture

4. Pray. Ask God what He wants you to know about that scripture

5. Write down what you hear. Keep a record of it to reference!

Today's Affirmation

Today, as you seek God, you will find Him. As you seek Him with your whole heart, He will reveal His heart to you. Your focus and clarity will improve, and you'll be brought into the understanding He has for you. You'll go through your day today with a feeling of confidence because you know that God is on your side. The blessing of God is covering your life today.

BWFwoman's manifestHER Daily Question of the Day:

What areas of life are causing you to feel impatient? Renew your commitment to spend time with God – what will that look like for you?