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| Distractions |
We often talk about Abraham as the Father of Faith. We celebrate his boldness, his move to an unknown land, and his radical obedience to God. But before we look at Abraham, we need to look at his father, Terah.
In Genesis 11:31, the Bible tells us something profound that we often skip over: “And Terah took Abram his son... and they went forth together to go from Ur of the Chaldeans into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there.”
Did you catch that? Terah started the journey to Canaan before Abraham did. He made the move. He had the right direction. But for some reason, he stopped halfway. He settled in Haran, and the Bible tells us that is where he died.
The question I want to pose to you today is this: Why was the journey incomplete?
The Danger of Settling Halfway
The Bible does not give us every detail of why Terah stopped, but it gives us a massive lesson on distractions.
As we navigate this year, distractions will come in various forms. Most often, they do not look like evil things; they come through the things we love, the areas where we have invested our treasures, and the places where our emotions are tied.
The enemy does not always try to stop you from starting; he just tries to get you to settle in a place that is not the land God asked you to go. He wants you to stop at good enough so you never reach destiny.
Your Obedience is Transgenerational
Here is the weight of the matter: Terahs stop was not just about him. Because he stopped in Haran, the journey to Canaan was delayed for a generation.
I want you to hear this clearly: Your obedience is transgenerational. It is not just for you. Your children, your grandchildren, and people you have not even met yet are tied to your Yes. When God puts an instruction in your heart whether it is taking your business to a new level, breaking an addiction, or simply starting a morning devotion with your family it is a lifeline for a generation.
If you nurse distractions, you are not just stalling your own life; you are passing a baton of halfway to the next generation. We see it all the time: children fighting the same weaknesses of the flesh gossip, immorality, lies, or pride that their parents refused to deal with.
2026: The Year of Finishing Strong
I do not know what distractions you faced last year. I had my fair share. But let 2026 be different.
Think of a woman in labor. When she is in that room, she is not chit chatting or looking for side projects. She has one singular, painful, intense focus: to birth. She stays on it until the promise is in her arms.
This year, be intentional:
Identify the Haran in your life: Where have you settled because it was easier than continuing to Canaan?
Guard your heart: Be wary of distractions coming from the things you love.
Remember the stakes: Realize that peoples lives will not reach their full potential if you do not obey.
God has called you out to make a name for Himself through your life. Do not let a seed of distraction in your emotions stop you from conquering new territories. Be the one in your lineage who receives the grace for finishing.
Move from where you are. Move toward the promise. Finish strong.
The youtube link to this video is attached below.
