Yogi Berra was a well-known baseball catcher for the New York Yankees, and Henry Hank Aaron was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The two teams were playing in the World Series, and Yogi, while encouraging his teammates on one hand, was trying to distract Hank Aaron the Milwaukee on the other. Yogi kept saying to him, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came (that is, throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play), he hit target. Afterwards, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read, I came to hit.” He was focused on the task at hand in spite of the efforts to distract him.

For the believer, I believe the action of Hank Aaron is instructive: When God gives you a promise, it is your responsibility to stay focused and ensure that it comes to pass. It is important not to get distracted by whatever the devil presents or tries to present to you, and that is because it is easy to lose focus, and possibly your way, if you allow distraction.

Our supporting scripture for the month (1 Corinthians 16:9) says, “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” God is always opening doors to his children, but there are often attempts by the adversary to hinder them from walking through those doors. His greatest weapon? Distraction!

Some distractions come in the guise of peers or colleagues succeeding or attaining goals you are yet to attain, while some present themselves as financial, marital, academic or health issues or challenges. In whatever form they come, you can choose to see them as mere mountains to be surmounted or rivers to cross, instead of allowing them to hinder you from achieving your God-given purpose.

It was Jack Canfield who said, “Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfilment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.”

So, this new month, recognise and always keep in mind that God has set before you an open door. And it is a great and effective door. Your responsibility is to walk through it. That door will lead you to every blessing you have ever desired and put an end to all your struggles. The devil may try to erect or put some barriers on your path, but always remember that he is a defeated foe.

This month, I challenge you to focus on the possibilities that lie within the open door set before you. Focus on the One (Jesus) who has secured your victory over the devil. He is holding your hand and is saying to you, “Do not fear.” With Him in your life, you will accomplish great and awesome things.

No devil can stop your blessings in Jesus name.

Welcome to July, your month of open doors.