Thousands of people have told me that, though they want to be used by God, they’re too busy. They’ve got their own agendas. They have their plans and dreams and ambitions, and they don’t have any time to give to God.

If you’re serious about being used by God, say, “Lord, what do I need to let go of? What do I need to cut out? What barriers are holding me back, keeping me from running the race you have planned for me?”

One of the biggest barriers is distractions. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (TLB).

Here are a few of the many things that might be distracting you from your life mission:

The expectations of other people. You’ve got to decide who you’re going to please first in life. You can only have one “number one.”

Time-consuming hobbies. There’s nothing wrong with having hobbies. But if they distract you from the most important things, then you need to make a change.

Your past. Maybe you haven’t let go of your past, and you’re holding on to guilt, resentment, or grief. Here’s the problem with that: When you’re stuck in the past, you can’t get on with the present—and you certainly can’t get on with God’s future for you. Your past is past. It’s over! So let it go.

What do you need to let go of? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is helpful” (HCSB). That means lots of things aren’t necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary. Life is often a choice between “Am I going to do something good?” or “Am I going to do what’s best?”

If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll get you so busy that you don’t have time for the important things—ministry, mission, and time alone with God.

You can’t do it all. So do what matters most! Simplify your life and eliminate distractions so God can use you.