Do you struggle with distractions in this fast-paced world in which we live? We all have good intentions when it comes to spending time with the Lord, but some how, every time we turn around, phone calls, the television, or our “To Do” lists become our priority. This continual tug-of-war between our spiritual needs and our busy lifestyles will most assuredly usher us into a “PIP” mode.

 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:5)

How many times have you fallen prey to the screaming commercials that promise a simplified life if you own a particular new gadget? Take “PIP,” translated, “Picture-in-a-Picture,” for example. This is a popular remote control feature that enables one to view two different television channels simultaneously. “PIP” makes it possible to first see the larger picture on the original channel, and then, at the flick of a button, a smaller picture of an entirely different channel will appear within the larger one. You can even move the smaller image to the top right or left or bottom right or left of the larger picture. It’s amazing! The whole idea of “PIP” is to make it possible for you to view two programs at the same time. However, the big problem with “PIP” is that you can never really see all of either program because your mind is either partly on one or partly on the other. There is a dividing of the mind, and until you eliminate one, you will continue down the path of distraction.

In the spiritual realm, we often find ourselves in “PIP” situations. We press our “remote control” button to God’s programming, only to find Satan continuously flicking in his “small picture” to distract us from what God wants us to see. We find ourselves struggling with the double mind syndrome as to whom we will obey. We have now entered into a “PIP” scenario in which Satan takes great delight! Isn’t this the very way he operated with Eve in the Garden of Eden? He distracted her from God’s truth by presenting his seemingly innocent “small picture” of deception.

Because God knows we are totally incapable of dealing with a “PIP” environment in our own strength, He has provided for us a solution: fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He admonishes us to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ so that we can destroy every stronghold that imprisons us. At the simple flick of our “remote control unit,” (a renewed mind which focuses on Christ and His word), we can eliminate every “SSPIGBP” (“Satan’s Small Picture in God’s Big Picture”) and experience the victory we already have in Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am grateful that you have provided a way of escape for every temptation we could face in this life. In our day-to-day living, we can so easily become distracted from your truth and struggle with what the enemy places before us on the “screens” of our minds. May we practice hiding your word in our hearts so that we can zap out the smaller picture that competes with your larger picture. May Christ be at the center of all our thoughts. Amen.

Encouragement Tip: Begin working to rid yourself of the PIP mode by practicing complete silence in both your car and in your home. Use this time to talk to God, listen to God, and memorize scripture. Choose a special time to be quiet and allow the answering machine to take all incoming calls until you are finished. Inform people in advance of your special time for meditation so they will not call you during that time. It is imperative that we fight the distractions of each day, for they are often Satan’s tools for keeping us from wholesome thoughts and our desperately needed communion with God.