Watching Kai run and play is one of the most amusing things you will ever see. Going in a straight line, or even maintaining focus are not Kai’s strong points. As this pup rips through the field, everything is a distraction! On his way to fetch a ball, he usually detours to chase a leaf, hunt a bug, jump in a puddle, or make friends with a person.

To keep him safe and work on training, I keep him on a long line. The lead gives him about 100 feet of room to move around in. This has been a great solution for letting him blow off some energy but I do have to be observant as he easily gets entangled in the line. While out with the pups the other day, I watched Kai once again get his feet tangled up. Moments in my life flashed through my mind like a movie. I thought of all the moments I have been off my guard and been entangled. I have not been observant, I have not been watchful, I have not been vigilant; I have been entangled in sin.

1 Peter 5:8 says “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” When Kai gets entangled in his line, it is usually because he’s not paying attention. He got distracted by the moving leaf, the fun person, or the hopping frog. When he focuses on me and what we are doing, he rarely gets tangled in his lead.

When I allow myself to be distracted by temptation and the “shiny” things around me, I fall prey to sin. If my focus is on Christ, I am much slower to be distracted by the temptations of the world around me and by my own selfish nature. Ephesians 6:10-18 is one of my favorite practical passages in the Bible. It instructs me to intentionally be vigilant and to guard my heart and my mind. I do have an enemy seeking to destroy me. Ephesians 6:10-11 says “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. My playful distracted puppy is such a good reminder of the importance of focus! I pray that the Lord will help me to stay focused in His Word, guard my heart, and put on His armor everyday so that I may honor Him with my decisions and be a light to a lost world!