Binding Spirits of Distraction: 9 Practical Tips

I find the story of Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall an interesting one to ponder.

In case you have never read the story, I’m going to summarize a portion of scripture for you.

The walls of Jerusalem had been broken down, and its gates were burnt as well. Back then, the walls and gates of a city were very important. It is what would fortify the city and its people within from the attacks of its enemies.

Nehemiah was devastated at hearing about the broken state Jerusalem was in.

Sometimes God births something amazing by giving you a burden for something first. Nehemiah was given the burden and direction from the Lord to rebuild the wall of the city.

Let’s pick up in Nehemiah 6.

Nehemiah wrote, “I had rebuilt the wall, and that no breach was left in it, although at that time I had not installed the doors in the gates” (Neh. 6:1).

So it was not totally secure yet. Remember the birthing metaphor. This would be “go time.” He had almost done it, just not quite finished securing the city. Wouldn’t it be like the enemy to come now with dis- tractions to throw him off course?

When you are close to birthing a promise, it’s time to narrow that focus and say no to distractions!

Two enemies of Nehemiah attempted to lure him off the project and off the wall. They said, “Come, let’s meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono [one of the other villages]” (Neh. 6:2).

But Nehemiah had wisdom to recognize they were planning to harm him. Look at his response!

I am doing a great work and am unable to come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you? (Nehemiah 6:3)

This perhaps is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible. Five times they tried to pull Nehemiah off his assignment from the Lord, but he recognized the enemy’s hand in all of it.

For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, God, strengthen my hands (Nehemiah 6:9).

First off, when God calls you and me to do something, we have to take it seriously. You are doing a great work and cannot afford to be distracted right now.

It’s time to narrow your focus.

Narrowing your focus may mean saying no to not only other people’s voices, but also saying no to other needs that may come to distract. It’s not that you won’t pick them back up later; it’s just that this isn’t your season to juggle it all.

This will now be my sixth book I’ve written. Every time I get a word from the Lord to write a book, I have to adjust my schedule. Together as a family we look at our schedules and see how we can carve out time and lessen my load so that I can focus, press in, and birth a book. (All authors reading this understand what I mean. Writing a novel is like birthing a baby, in a way.)

Suddenly, when God gives you a new assignment, you will find yourself with every temptation to be distracted staring you in the face. Pulled in many directions, you may find yourself wondering, How I will ever juggle it all and yet do this thing God is asking me to do?

Just say no.

Yep, you heard me. Just say no to other or extra demands. Literally, this has been one of the best tips of advice a friend has ever given me.

It may not be a forever no—it may be more like a “just not right now.” If Nehemiah did it, so can you!

Tips to Narrowing Down

In my own life, I have some simple examples of narrowing my focus and saying no:

1. Turning off my phone, computer, and all screen devices,

2. Learning to not overcommit myself,

3. Setting reasonable goals,

4. Finding a quiet space to dream with God,

5. Saying no to commitments (even ones that seem great but will suck my time and energy),

6. Releasing to God any guilt I feel for saying “no” or “not right now”,

7. Being still and listening to God (sometimes one of the hardest things to do, but produces the most outcome),

8. Increasing my prayer life, fasting, and time in the Word,

9. Being intentional with my time.

So I want to challenge you. Are there things you are carrying right now that you need to lay down? Are there commitments you are trying to juggle right now that you simply need to just say no to in this season? Are there ways you need to be more intentional or careful with your time so you can birth the promise of God?

Are there ways you need to narrow your focus?

Write Your Promise Out Clearly

In Genesis 30 we find an interesting story. Jacob, who had been serving his father-in-law Laban for years, was ready to claim his wages. He said, “Let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled or spotted sheep and every black sheep among the lambs, and the spotted or speckled among the goats; and those shall be my wages” (Gen. 30:32).

Jacob then did something interesting! He set down peeled rods that looked stripped in all the areas the flocks would gather to drink and mate. It says in verse 39, “So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks delivered striped, speckled, and spotted offspring.” Jacob placed the rods near the strongest of the flock, which produced strong spotted offspring—and he prospered.

Isn’t that an interesting piece of scripture!

Jacob put within eyesight of the flocks their destiny to be spotted and striped, and voila—it produced the outcome. Let’s stop a moment and put into practice this very thing.

I myself have been praying over a promise of God daily, but I feel challenged by my own words here—to “write it plainly,” so that I can see it daily, and pray.

What is it you are praying for and contending for? I want to challenge you, don’t just settle. You are a son or daughter of the King of kings! You don’t have to settle.

Write it out. If you could have the very thing you’ve been contending for, what specifically would life look like? Be very specific. If God were going to give you exactly what you asked for, what would you ask? Have you lost your eyesight?

Now write it down and post it somewhere you can daily see it and pray over it. You might even have to print out some pictures or draw it out and tape it up on your wall! You should see my office wall right now!

Remember, Habakkuk 2:2 says, “So that the one who reads it will run” (AMP).

Prayer

Lord, I pray for clarity of our eyesight right now. I pray for our focus to get narrowed in on the assignment You have given us in this season. Help us keep our focus. Help us keep our faith for the promise. I declare Revelation 3:18— that we may have eye salve to anoint our eyes so that we may see. God, clarify the direction You are leading us right now. I pray for clarity even over the next steps that we need to take. We want Your perspective and not our own. God, give us Heaven’s perspective over this promise right now. Faith! Faith! I declare an increased measure of faith to be imparted to you right now over your destiny! Amen.