Living While Distracted: Distracted Living Kills... Choose Life

By Marlo M. Afflalo

Have you simply lost your way? Is feeling unseen and unheard keeping you awake at night-- tossing and turning because your worth is not being validated, and in fear of not becoming the man or woman of your dreams? Do you feel like you should be doing more to impact your family and community for God? Do you have a numbing fear of what will happen if you continue living an unfulfilled life? Even worse, are you haunted by the nagging fear of what might happen if you actually follow your dreams and accomplish the vision of who you could be--the vision God has shown you of how He sees you?
You're not alone. Amidst all the constant, noisy distractions, we all need the True Anchor. In this revelatory moment, it's okay to admit that you need a true and trusted Guide and Savior… not only to save you from the current murky troubled waters of daily life, but to ensure you never have to entertain and endure the intrusive madness that has taken you so far off course.
God has a plan and a purpose for your life. Christians walking in their purpose increase God's presence here on earth and build the Kingdom of God. The Bible says that when God's people are operating inside His will for their life, He is with them and everything they put their hands to will prosper. A mind-shift is essential. Somewhere deep inside you, you know that. Until you can identify and do away with those unhealthy distractions, you will not live in your purpose and be able to benefit those awaiting your divine gift.
In this powerful new book, "Living While Distracted," author Marlo M. Afflalo shares proven strategies God has outlined in His Word for Christians to choose life and walk successfully in their purpose: focused, fulfilled, and fruitful. Turn the pages now and begin to truly breathe as your new, fruitful life journey begins and coincides with God's divine purpose for you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350923230

Book preview

iNTRODUCTiON

Our society has gotten so busy and technologically advanced that we often hear reports on the news about people driving while distracted and the accidents they cause. They are being compared to those driving under the influence of some illegal substance. We are even passing new laws to prosecute them more severely. There seems to be some force compelling people to do more, and more, and more. And to what end?

It seems that although we say the desired outcome of all our hard work, rushing around, and maintaining constant communications with the world is to be able to accomplish our goals, fulfill our dreams, and make money so we don’t have to rush around anymore; yet, we keep doing more and more! The end does not seem to be in sight, instead, it’s just more insanity.

We do more and more, yet we still have the same problems, the same issues, and the same feelings of not being fulfilled in our lives. There is still more work to be done, one more deal to close, one more project to complete, one last report to present, or one more phone call to make. When all these things are done, there is still more to follow, but we convince ourselves that these continuous activities are required to reach our goal.

When we over-extend ourselves beyond reason, we receive that quick fix, and we end up with an empty feeling. Despite what we’ve gone through, we begin the vicious cycle all over again the next day, the next week, the next month, the next year.

It’s insanity doing the same things over and over and expecting a different outcome! Doing more and more work and still having feelings of not being fulfilled in our lives. This includes church work.

As Christians, we do all this under the guise of God helps those who help themselves. That’s not in the Bible, by the way. Or we say, Neither shall a man eat lest he work to justify our actions, however, that scripture is taken out of context. We tell ourselves, We have to give our children a better lifestyle than we had in terms of things, not spiritual gifts. We think, We deserve all the toys and luxury items that everyone else has; after all, we work really hard every day. This is self-reward vs. Godly reward. Yet, these things don’t completely fulfill us, and our families are still experiencing the same problems and issues as others throughout time. The cycle continues because we teach this to our children and grandchildren…and so on. We need to heed the exhortation and put into practice the words of Proverbs 22:6 to put God first in our lives and train our children to do the same.

Somehow, we have come to believe the lie that God is not interested in our work lives or our lives outside of church or doing His work. Some of us have accepted the lie that we must suffer until we retire or win the lottery. Considering that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16), it’s amazing to me that we allow ourselves to believe that lie or variations and degrees of it.

The lie becomes the biggest distraction in our lives and keeps us from putting first things first, making disciples of all men (Matthew 28:18-20). The answers come when we seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) and His way of doing things. These are the only things that will give us the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that will not fade. All the other things that we tend to put in front of sharing the gospel and seeking God’s way of doing things only satisfies the flesh, yet the flesh cannot be satisfied (Galatians 5:16-26, Matthew 15:11). We must remember that although we are in this world, we are not of this world (John 17:14). We must never lose sight of the fact that we are just as subject to spiritual laws as we are to natural laws (John 1:1-5, 14). The same fervor we show in doing our work and planning activities for our families and volunteering to help other people, we must also have toward sharing the gospel and seeking God’s kingdom. It is our reasonable service to God as Christians (Romans 12:1-2).

The natural laws tell us that if we work hard on our jobs, we will be able to move ahead, get promoted and make more money. The risks and rewards are clearly outlined. The spiritual laws tell us that if we are obedient to God’s Word, we will receive blessings we do not have room enough to receive (Malachi 3:10-11). The risks and rewards are clearly outlined here as well. But we seem to put more faith in the natural than the spiritual, not recognizing that spiritual laws dictate natural laws (I Chronicles 4:9-10, Galatians 5:16-26). We can overcome the flesh by being in the Spirit. We must put God first in everything we do.

I’ve outlined this book in six sections. The first five provide strategies for mindset shifts we as Christians can make to walk in the Spirit and put God first. The sixth, a bonus section is for married couples and men and women who want to be married. It provides strategies to prepare oneself for marriage and traits to look for in a mate. Embracing these mindset shifts by reframing the way we think about our life’s purpose are the first steps toward leading a focused, fruitful and fulfilled life in Christ.

1SALVATION: There is power in our salvation.

2OVERCOME: We have already overcome every obstacle and barrier in Christ, we just have to walk and operate in it.

3PURPOSE: Our purpose is not far from us – it is alive inside of us.

4EQUIPPED: We were made for this – to fulfill our God-given purpose.

5FULFILLED: When we walk in our purpose, God does amazing things in and through our lives – allowing us to walk in expectation, not surprise.

6ACCORD: Seeking God personally will bring you closer to your spouse.

My goal in writing this book is that Christians who read it will be able to:

◆Re-ignite the flame of salvation in their spirit

◆Identify the distractions in their lives and give them over to God

◆Understand the purpose God has given each of us and how to fulfill it

◆Identify and evaluate their spiritual gifts and talents

◆Identify ways to use their spiritual gifts and talents to accomplish their purpose

◆Receive the fulfillment of being obedient to God’s calling

I am convinced that no one can satisfy our souls like Jesus, and until we get ourselves in line with God’s plan, we will not have complete satisfaction in our lives—which is the satisfaction God intends us all to have.

My prayer is that God will add a blessing to your life as you read this book. That the Holy Spirit will water the seeds of God’s Word in your heart and bring them to maturity to bear fruit in your life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SALVATION

sal·va·tion (sal-ˈvā-shən)

1: deliverance from the power and effects of sin

2: liberation from ignorance or illusion

3a: preservation from destruction or failure

3b: deliverance from danger or difficulty

CHRiSTiANS

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

One who is a follower of Christ and has accepted Christ as Savior and Lord by faith with public confession -- and is awaiting Christ’s return.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16)

The Bible is God revealed to man for the purpose of making him (man) complete and restored back to Him (God).

Christians’ basic beliefs are outlined in the Apostles’ Creed.

WHAT IS IT?

At its essence, the 12 points of the Apostles’ Creed are a compilation of scriptures from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible that succinctly outline the tenets of the Christian faith. It shows the love of God for mankind and the lengths He went through to demonstrate and prove that love. It substantiates Him as a triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It also validates the plan to restore man to Himself for all eternity.

Public confession of the Apostles’ Creed has a fourfold purpose for Christians: 1) To glorify our Father in heaven; 2) To provide a better understanding of the object of our faith; 3) To be able to express our faith to others; and 4) To know what we are testifying to as we proclaim Christ and Him crucified to the world.

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

1I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord:

3Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary:

4Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell:

5The third day He rose again from the dead:

6He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9I believe in the holy Catholic church and the communion of saints:

10 The forgiveness of sins: