--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If he could have his way, Satan would…" description: "\"If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life-probably..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/marvin-j-ashton-3195_busy_if-he-could-have-his-way-satan-would-dis_2247541.png" --- # If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our… ![“If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life-probably none of which is very important in the long run-to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality…” quote by Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/marvin-j-ashton-3195_busy_if-he-could-have-his-way-satan-would-dis_2247541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/marvin-j-ashton-3195_busy_if-he-could-have-his-way-satan-would-dis_2247541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/marvin-j-ashton-3195_busy_if-he-could-have-his-way-satan-would-dis_2247541.png) > “If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life-probably none of which is very important in the long run-to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality that we are God's children. He would like us to forget about home and family values. He'd like to keep us so busy with comparatively insignificant things that we don't have time to make the effort to understand where we came from, whose children we are, and how glorious our ultimate homecoming can be!” [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distractions keep us from focusing on spiritual roots and eternal priorities. **In simple terms:** Satan distracts us from heritage. Key Takeaway Prioritize spiritual heritage over trivialities. Themes faith heritage focus Mood contemplative serious Type sermon motivational When to use this quote - daily routines - media consumption - busy schedules Key Concepts spiritual distraction values eternal perspective Questions to Reflect On - What distractions dominate your day? - How can you refocus on lasting values? A Different Perspective Balancing responsibilities can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Family Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-value/) [Family values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-values/) [Heritage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heritage/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home and family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-and-family/) [Homecoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homecoming/) [Insignificant things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificant-things/) [Long runs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-runs/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Where we came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where-we-came/) ## Related quotes > [“Each day Jesus says to us, “You are My beloved child. I am well pleased in you. Now live that way.” Satan, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/each-day-jesus-says-to-us-you-are-my-beloved-child-i-am-well-pleased/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“Start each day in such a way that satan screams, OH NOOOOO...He's getting up!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-miller/start-each-day-in-such-a-way-that-satan-screams-oh-nooooo-he-s/) Jay Miller > [The way Satan works is he offers you stuff that could look good to the eye and makes you feel comfortable, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-folau/the-way-satan-works-is-he-offers-you-stuff-that-could-look-good-to/) [Israel Folau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-folau/) > [Open is the way of Satan; many walk therein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-hus/open-is-the-way-of-satan-many-walk-therein/) [Jan Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-hus/) > [A diet of violence or pornography dulls the senses, and future exposures need to be rougher and more extreme. Soon the person is desensitized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/a-diet-of-violence-or-pornography-dulls-the-senses-and-future/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“I am more aware of the world now, the tiny insignificant things especially. I am beginning to be more childlike. For an artist this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-debaggio/i-am-more-aware-of-the-world-now-the-tiny-insignificant-things/) Thomas DeBaggio > [It was at a time in my life when I needed to be told how special certain people in my life were, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/it-was-at-a-time-in-my-life-when-i-needed-to-be-told-how-special/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) > [ What does Reverence for Life say abut the relations between \[humanity\] and the animal world? Whenever I injury any kind of life I must… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-does-reverence-for-life-say-abut-the-relations-between-humanity/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I could've written songs about, for example, the Paris attacks as they happened and have the song out the day after, but doing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-could-ve-written-songs-about-for-example-the-paris-attacks-as-they/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [I blame the newspapers because every day they call our attention to insignificant things, while three or four times in our lives,we read books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/i-blame-the-newspapers-because-every-day-they-call-our-attention-to/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [It is better to be doing the most insignificant thing than to reckon even a half-hour insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-better-to-be-doing-the-most-insignificant-thing-than-to-reckon/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“If we try to complicate our lives, developing clever plans and ambitions, we lose sight of the way in which small, insignificant things actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-ping-ong/if-we-try-to-complicate-our-lives-developing-clever-plans-and/) Yi-Ping Ong > [“Possibly the only way to maintain some sort of resemblance of normalcy was by thinking about insignificant things. That way, it didn’t feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-armentrout/possibly-the-only-way-to-maintain-some-sort-of-resemblance-of/) [Jennifer Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-armentrout/) > [There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on how one looks at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/there-is-nothing-insignificant-in-the-world-it-all-depends-on-how-one/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [If I make a wrong decision, I worry what might have been. I stress out over very insignificant things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-barnett/if-i-make-a-wrong-decision-i-worry-what-might-have-been-i-stress-out/) [Courtney Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-barnett/) ## More by Marvin J. Ashton > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Satan is ever present, trying to destroy our glory and remove our crown. One of his most powerful tools is discouragement. Don't let your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/satan-is-ever-present-trying-to-destroy-our-glory-and-remove-our/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Shaking off restrictive chains requires action. They cannot be wished away. A declaration will never break chains. It requires commitment, self-discipline, and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/shaking-off-restrictive-chains-requires-action-they-cannot-be-wished/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“The shepherds were invited to come and see. They saw. They trembled. They testified. They rejoiced. They saw Him wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/the-shepherds-were-invited-to-come-and-see-they-saw-they-trembled/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [As children of God we are somebody. He will build us, mold us, and magnify us if we will but hold our heads up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/as-children-of-god-we-are-somebody-he-will-build-us-mold-us-and/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [We should teach, particularly ourselves, that nobody is a nobody. We are someone, and with God's help we can accomplish all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-should-teach-particularly-ourselves-that-nobody-is-a-nobody-we-are/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/perhaps-the-greatest-charity-comes-when-we-are-kind-to-each-other/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“An understanding, loving heart is the pinnacle of all human emotions…. We come closest to becoming Christlike when we are charitable and understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/an-understanding-loving-heart-is-the-pinnacle-of-all-human-emotions/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [When a mother asked her small child how he fell out of bed, he answered, "Because I wasn't in far enough." Let me just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/when-a-mother-asked-her-small-child-how-he-fell-out-of-bed-he/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [All of us need to be constantly reminded it takes a heap of living and loving to make a house a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/all-of-us-need-to-be-constantly-reminded-it-takes-a-heap-of-living/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [A willingness to vocalize feelings. How important it is to be willing to voice one's thoughts and feelings. Yes, how important it is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/a-willingness-to-vocalize-feelings-how-important-it-is-to-be-willing/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Peace-not passion, not personal possessions, not personal accomplishments nor happiness-is one of the greatest blessings a man can receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/peace-not-passion-not-personal-possessions-not-personal/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Young people . . , God wants us to be victorious. He wants you to triumph over all of your foes. Stalwart and brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/young-people-god-wants-us-to-be-victorious-he-wants-you-to-triumph/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [The direction in which we are moving is more important than where we are at the moment. Goal setting should cause us to stretch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/the-direction-in-which-we-are-moving-is-more-important-than-where-we/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“With God’s help, good cheer permits us to rise above the depressing present or difficult circumstances. … It is sunshine when clouds block the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/with-god-s-help-good-cheer-permits-us-to-rise-above-the-depressing/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) [Explore all 137 Marvin J. Ashton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life-probably none of which is very important in the long run-to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality that we are God's children. He would like us to forget about home and family values. 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