GRACE TONIC WEEK 38: SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2024 TITLE - THE MULTITUDE OF DISTRACTION 2 TEXT: MATTHEW 5:1 NKJV "And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him." Distractions are a serious hindrance to the fulfillment of God's mandate upon a life. It remains the root cause of all misalignment with the purposes of God. As Pastor 'Leke once said, one degree of misalignment can hinder the fulfillment of God's plan for a life. Misalignment may not be apparent in the beginning, it'd appear as though one is still on the right track. Abraham was reported to be rich in cattle, silver and gold even when Lot was in his company (Gen 13:2). Only when the man has journeyed long in his new alignment will it become apparent that he has missed it. Distractions in your company immediately resets the course of one's destination to an alternate one. A man will never arrive at his preset destination once he's become distracted. He'd no sooner become a victim of an accident than reaching his destination. David will respectfully decline the offer to go with Saul's royal armour as though beautiful it'd slow him down ( 1 Sam 17:39). The distraction of Saul's armour would have brought the death of David and with it the end of God's plan for his life. To think he'd just been anointed in the previous chapter it goes to show that distractions are powerful enough to end the life and quest of the anointed. Distractions causes God to suspend His commitment since the new destination isn't His. This is more serious because having results in a distracted vision leads one to believe that all is well and that the Lord is still in the boat with us. May we receive the mercy Abraham received with the contention that arose with Lot which led to their separation (Amen). The scriptures offer no correction for distractions than the power of separation. It appears as though God waits for us to separate from the distractions before resuming His commitment. He'd only speak so clearly to Abraham about His promise and plan for Him after Lot had left his company. Jesus would preach so sharply and succinctly after withdrawing from the multitude. David would go confidently to face Goliath after dispensing with Saul's armour. Beloved, it seems God is also waiting to speak more clearly about that vision once you've done away with the distraction. You'd only attack your vision sprightly like a deer when our focus has been recalibrated. Because the Lord will help me (because I have a vision), therefore have I set my face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7). This is the disposition our visions need to come to the place of manifestation. With distractions in our lives, the vision can never be plain and as such will not cause to run. Have you also become distracted by a strange armour or a trusted company like Lot? Have you gone forth with it and have been slowed down? Now is the time to cut them loose and be recalibrated in our focus. May the Lord empower us to be separate from all distractions that'd hinder our visions in Jesus name (Amen). Pastor Sam Ajani TARM Nigeria ------------------------------------------------ Grace Tonic is an online, inspirational, weekly devotional of Transfiguration Ark Revival Ministry. ------------------------------------------------- This week’s devotional is authored by Pastor Sam Ajani. He leads the Ibadan Outreach Centre of the Transfiguration Ark Revival Ministries (TARM). P. S. Our latest books, Holistic Revival; Keys to Receiving and Retaining All-Round Revival from God and Understanding, and Applying Consecration are now available for sale. Visit: www.tarminternational.org/store to place your order or call/chat at +2348062614981 for your copies.