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Critical Focus
How many times have we sat in church (or stood during worship) and allowed our minds to wander? Many thoughts can bombard our minds, such as "What am I going to fix to eat or where will I go for lunch after church? I need to get this or that done after church. I like that shirt John or Sally has on. I wonder where he or she bought it." Thoughts like that are not bad thoughts, but are meant by Satan to be distracting thoughts. He can also unexpectedly cause unchristian-like thoughts to sneak in the backdoor of our minds. He does not want our focus to be on God or on worshiping God at church, or anywhere. Our mind is where the front lines of the battle ground is. But God says in Ecclesiastes 5:1 to "Walk prudently..." (NKJ) or "Keep your foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the House of God" (Amplified Bible). We have to bring our bodies under subjection of the Holy Spirit. Our minds are a part of our bodies. We are to utilize the armor of God to protect our minds and stay focused on God. Our mind is the "control center" of our actions in spiritual warfare, prayer, worship, ministry, etc. So, the enemy wants to shut down or distract our mind, our focus. He wants to distract us from our ministry or our place on the wall in the House of God or outside of the four walls of the church.
In order to come into the presence of God, whether at church, at home, or anywhere, we have to "take off or lay aside" any attached distractions, any attached idols that take our focus off of God, any action on our part that would take the place of God's provision or take the place of His hand upon an area of our life. Genesis 35:4 illustrates this well:
"1AND GOD said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. And make there an altar to God Who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled from the presence of Esau your brother. 2Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the [images of] strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves and change [into fresh] garments; 3Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar to God Who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me wherever I went. 4So they [both young men and women] gave to Jacob all the strange gods they had and their earrings which were [worn as charms against evil] in their ears; and Jacob buried and hid them under the oak near Shechem."
When Jacob (Gen. 35:1-4) would go to Bethel, the House of God, purification was always necessary. In Biblical times earrings could be used as amulets and charms to ward off evil. I am not saying earrings are sinful, but I am showing the spiritual connection/parallel with this passage of scripture on how we are to lay aside any distractions, whatever that may be, whether it is something physically tangible or not physically tangible.
Exodus 3:5 states, "God said, Do not come near; put your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground." This scripture shows the respect by removal of the shoes when entering the presence of God. Orientals removed their shoes in the home and at all places of worship, just as we remove our hats. It is a symbol of laying aside all pollutions from walking in the way of sin (Dake's Bible, Exodus 3:5). We are to take off or lay aside any pollution in our lives that would cause us to be spiritually dirty. We remove our polluted shoes by true repentance and turning away from distractions and sin in our lives, allowing the blood of Jesus to cleanse and sanctify us, and cover us in His righteousness
"Keep your foot, take off, remove the shoes, lay aside", are all instruction words from God. He will not force us to obey. We have a choice to obey God's Word. What is your choice going to be? It all depends on whether you are determined to live in His presence and to not let anything distract you from focusing on God.