We’ve all experienced it, right? You’re trying to preach what God has put on your heart, but the battle of your focus is in full swing. Babies are crying, the sound system is popping, and, oh, that dreaded sound of finger nails being clipped is coming from the front of the auditorium.
I recently had a service like this that was filled with one distraction after another. It’s Sunday morning, and I find my place on the platform in my seat while the choir prepares to sing. While they’re singing I noticed laughing, giggling, and whispering from one of our side sections. Most of the time I simply ignore it and keep going, but this time the giggling was persistent. I looked over and literally 10 to 15 people have found something funny while I’m trying to focus on the choir song. This may not be a big deal to you, but I detest it when people don’t show respect toward the special music.
Next, I get up to welcome guests and lead the service in prayer when the whispering has spread to the next section over. Immediately I wonder, “Did I leave my pants unzipped? Did I say something wrong? Why are people laughing?” Completely off focus.
We move on to the offering/special music and it all begins to fall apart. Several decide to leave for the restroom, I suppose, which causes many heads to turn. The laughing is continuing in the side section, and now two phones begin to ring. “Ughhhhh,” I’m thinking, “Can people not give the Lord their undivided attention just for 60 minutes!”
Preaching time, now. I’m aware that we have several lost people in the service, and it’s time to refocus. I must! This is my ONE shot at getting the truth to these who are unsaved. I pray and ask the Lord to remove distractions and help me refocus. At this point, another phone rings. Except this time, he decides to take the call. The young man checks his caller ID and proceeds toward the foyer while receiving what must have been an extremely important call (it better have been to make God’s message secondary!).
