Sermon Notes

February 19, 2016

Distractions


An experiment was once performed in a class of college seniors. The professor approached the clean white board, and smack-dab in the center he drew a black dot the size of a quarter. He then asked the class to take a moment and write down what they observed. Unanimously, they wrote down the obvious, a black dot. The professor challenged the class, “Only 1% of this board consists of a black dot. You overlooked 99% to write your observation. This, students, is a perfectly clean white board with the exception of a minuscule dot.”

How often in life do we miss out because we’re distracted by the smallness of one thing? It’s like hosting a party or event where all but one shows up. There you are, surrounded by people who love and support you, yet riddled with rejection and insecurity over the one who chose to forgo.

Are you a social media guru? Do you get stumped when friends bypass your perfect post only to like the next 10 in their stream? Never mind that 25 other people liked it, that one didn’t. Or maybe your presentation is received with nods and praises—from all except that one blank face glaring from the back of the room. Stop letting the 1% knock the wind out of you.

You can’t see the white board for the black dot.

The truth is, the day we live in is distracting and defeating if we don’t set our focus on Christ. The enemy would love nothing more than to fix your eyes on the one to derail your God-course. He loves to eliminate us from experiencing the peace of God in our lives by means of comparison and envy. And the thing is … it works. If we are not intentional, his little black dot will skew the picture EVERY TIME.

Whoever it is that has you in a bad mood today, remember that you do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV).

Quit focusing your energy on the one who is against you, and instead extend gratitude to The One who is for you! Surround yourself with the people in life that lift you up. Instead of grappling with rejection and comparison, clothe yourself in the full armor of God, and decide today that He is the sole possessor of your focus.

There is freedom and peace like you never knew before hinging on the vastness of His white board!

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