We all allow distractions to pull us away from God’s true purpose for our lives. John the Baptist is one of the most impressive characters in the Bible to me personally. Through his singularity of mind and discipline, he was able to fulfill God’s plan exactly as He intended. John the Baptist was not distracted and was always focused on God’s plan for his life, never wavering away, right up until his death. John knew his part and even questioned his worthiness to baptize Jesus. In Matthew 3:14 John tries to talk Jesus out of it, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”. Even so, in his humility, John consented to Jesus’ command.

This is a powerful example for us in a couple of ways: 1) We allow too many distractions that take our focus away from completely serving God and fulfilling His purpose in and through our lives. 2) Even though we feel unworthy to participate in God’s great purpose, He can always use us if we are simply willing to follow His lead.

In today’s reading Psalm 138:8 stood out to me, The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands. When we submit to God’s plans for our lives, we make the most of it. We must always remember God’s plan for us is perfect. When we try to compete against Him and His purpose for our lives, we do not experience all we were meant to be.

When we walk through the woods at night it is easier to have a light at our feet to light our path and to keep us from tripping over objects in our way. The same goes for God’s word through the Bible; it leads us and shows us the path through the darkness in this world. Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a light to my feet and light for my path. When we study God’s word He reveals the right path for us as we live out this life.