Distraction thieves!

Most of us have been to a bank before to withdraw money or pay in money. In the UK most banks have a notice up that says 'Beware of distraction thieves'.

What then is a distraction thief?

The role of a distraction thief is to distract you from what is important. In a bank that would be your money. The thief will try to make you shift your focus, get your eyes off your money and then steal it. The tactic is to get your focus off what really matters.

Distraction thieves come to all of us in many ways. You are about to pray and the phone rings. Instead of you letting the call go to voice mail you pick it up and stay on the phone for one hour. You drop the phone and then find it difficult to pray.

The Lord gives you direction to move out of town for a work He has for you to do. That's when your firm decides to offer you a promotion and pay rise. Subtle but calling it what it is, it is a distraction thief.

We need to realise that the enemy is a thief. That is one of his main job descriptions. John 10:10 says The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The enemy does not come with a red hat and announce 'here l am' but with subtlety he tries to steal from us.

Next time something happens, ask yourself is this a distraction thief? Is this situation trying to distract me from what the Lord is saying to me. If it is, then resist it and keep your focus on what really matters. Don't let the enemy steal from you.

Bisi Oladipupo
19 June 2009