But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. – Mark 7:27, KJV

When God gives us work to do, one of the greatest impediments to getting the job done is distraction. To illustrate this, consider the following two examples from Eric Barker’s blog, Barking Up the Wrong Tree:

What does research show the most productive computer programmers have in common? It’s not experience, salary, or hours spent on a project. They had employers who created an environment free from distraction.

Via Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking:

“…top performers overwhelmingly worked for companies that gave their workers the most privacy, personal space, control over their physical environments, and freedom from interruption.”

In addition:

Via Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much:

“(There was) a school in New Haven that was located next to a noisy railroad line.  To measure the impact of this noise on academic performance, two researchers noted that only one side of the school faced the tracks, so the students in classrooms on that side were particularly exposed to the noise but were otherwise similar to their fellow students. They found a striking difference between the two sides of the school. Sixth graders on the train side were a full year behind their counterparts on the quieter side. Further evidence came when the city, prompted by this study, installed noise pads. The researchers found this erased the difference: now students on both sides of the building performed at the same level.”

Jesus modeled the importance of shunning distraction in passages like Mark 7:24-30 and Luke 9:51-56. In both cases, Christ demonstrated how important it is for us to stay focused on His purposes, and just as He stayed true to His goals with laser-like focus, we should do the same.

Whatever work God has for you today, understand that the Enemy will do his best to distract you from the work. When the distractions come, deal with them if you must, but ignore them if you can. The more you can shun distraction, the more you will enjoy success for God.