How to Focus on God in a World Full of Distraction
I am easily lured away from focusing on what is important.
Shiny things catch my attention, and my mind wanders off on a rabbit trail of diversion.
I think I have the disease of distraction. How about you?
Maybe like me you can waste an entire day trolling Facebook and being nosy. Have you ever sat for hours watching absolutely nothing on television with the remote in hand? Perhaps you’ve spent a night researching recipes but never cooked a thing.
The new popular term for this disease is Shiny Object Syndrome. Like the dog in the movie Up, I am enticed by squirrels and shiny things that flash by my line of view.
Honestly, I waste so much time in my day just letting my thoughts drift and day dreaming. I’ve had entire conversations in my head that never took place, but I was emotionally exhausted just from over-thinking about it.
The hardest time of the day is when I try to read my Bible. Y’all, the struggle is real. I can open up the Good Book to any page at any time of the day and be immediately distracted in like 5 seconds.
I don’t know if you struggle with spiritual ADD as much as I do, but my guess is that you may find it hard to focus on God in a world full of shiny distractions.
We are distracted by our phones.
We are distracted by paparazzi news stories.
We are distracted by rehearsing our hurts, catastrophizing our problems, and trying to psycho-analyze pesky people.
If you are tired of living an out of focus life like me, I want to offer you 3 suggestions from God’s Word to help you say NO to the shiny stuff and YES to sweet time with your Savior.
3 Ways to Focus on God in a World Full of Distractions
Look Away from Shiny Diversions
The enemy of our souls lives to distract us and weigh us down. If anything other than life and peace are renting space in your head, it’s time to serve those unwelcome visitors an eviction notice. Take inventory of what thoughts are consuming your energy, rather than feeding your spirit. Streamline your thoughts of all that’s unnecessary.
“…let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith…”(Hebrews 12:1-2, AMP)
Look In the Steadfast Truth
If you are looking at anything else other than God’s Word to determine your appearance, your perception is distorted. The stain of sin clouds every image on our television screens, on our laptops, and in print. Don’t let this broken world define you — you are not damaged goods. You are a masterpiece reflecting the image of Christ, and you radiate His love in a unique way. You lack nothing, beautiful one.
“But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a careless listener who forgets but an active doer who obeys, he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does in his life of obedience. (James 1:25)
Look Toward a Sure Eternity
Christ followers are forward thinkers — we are pursuing a higher call than just making ends meet and planning for retirement. We aren’t settling for temporary shacks. Our sights are on a heavenly habitation, and hope propels us onward with purpose and passion. Shiny things can’t tempt you when you have glory in view.
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith — continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which will bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21)
This month, I invite you to join me in a simple morning exercise to fix our focus on God.
I’ve created a one-page printable with simple sentence prayers and Scriptures to help you start your day. Download a copy and pray through these sweet promises every morning to help you combat spiritual ADD in your quiet time with Jesus. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
When we look at Jesus consistently, our countenance changes. We radiate life and peace, and people start to wonder why we are different. We will shine Jesus in the midst of this crazy busy life.
Focus on your glorious Savior, and the shiny things of this world will grow strangely dim.
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ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?
I am also easily distracted, and it’s a challenge to persevere in some of the “less shiny” aspects of my do-list. Thanks for sharing your own struggles with this, and pointing the way toward truth.
I can relate to that, Michele. I tend to avoid things on my to-do list, too.
Wonderful post, Lyli, and such practical suggestions to fight of our spiritual distractions. Also glad for the book suggestions. I just finished Made Like Martha by Katie Reid (excellent). I am just starting When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Larry Crabb and pulled out Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist for a re-read 🙂
Love Katie!!!!
I plead among the guilty on this. I am aware of the struggle and make a course correction and then discover it has returned again. Thanks for speaking truth about this again and encouraging us all in the battle for our minds, hearts, and spirits.
Yes, it’s a daily battle. Right?
We are distracted by rehearsing our hurts, catastrophizing our problems, and trying to psycho-analyze pesky people. Sounds very familiar.
The struggle is real!!!
Hi Lyli! Distraction is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons and he loves to use it against me, against all of us. Thank you for reminding me to focus on Jesus. He has already won the battle! Blessings!
Yes, He has!!! #ArmorOn
Have you been peering over my shoulder? I’m amazed at how easy it is to get distracted by things of no eternal value. Even some of those things that seem worthwhile can occupy too much of my time. I love your 3 suggestions for ways to reign those wayward thoughts and activities back in. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it’s not bad — but it robs me of what is best. And that is the problem. More Jesus; less junky stuff.
Ugh. Feeling very distracted by negative news right now. I needed this kick in the teeth. laurensparks.net
My hubby makes me turn off the TV if I get sucked in. Thankful for Him because I end up with a heavy heart that forgets God is bigger than bad news.
Soooo true, Lyli. The mornings my phone stays plugged up because of its low battery are my least distracted times in the Word. It’s a battle for sure. I so easily get pulled into the distraction and before I know it — valuable time is gone. Thank you friend for encouragement to put a lid on the things that distract.
Yes, I stopped using You Version entirely because of this. I can’t stay focused with a phone near.
Thank you for giving us a chance to win.sharedvon fb
I need this: “If anything other than life and peace are renting space in your head, it’s time to serve those unwelcome visitors an eviction notice.” I let anxiety take up too much space in my head.
You are not alone, friend. Anxiety is such a thief.
Great post. I am so distracted with the “shiny objects” of life that I don’t always focus on the God who has watched over me in hard times.
I shared this post on facebook as Sherri Sav.
Yes, good point. Thank the Lord for His focused care for us!!! He is so patient.
It’s embarrassing how easily distracted I can be! It’s my dog gone phone! I need to hide it when I sit down to have my quiet time with the Lord. 🙂
Me, too!!!!!
I love this statement: “FOCUS ON YOUR GLORIOUS SAVIOR, AND THE SHINY THINGS OF THIS WORLD WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM.”
I find that every time I try to use my Bible app to listen to the Bible something happens – something to distract me (and it is usually not of my own making – most often it is my kids doing something or needing help). But I love the message behind your post. I will be sharing to Facebook.
So I just joined and I’m excited to be part of a community of women that have the same faith and struggles as me. Faith has been a huge part of my current situation to keep a long story short my husband and I moved our whole family from one state to another “ON FAITH” many distractions came with this journey. It has been very hard for me to stay focused when there are so many noises around me. Distractions, distractions!!!!!! Oh how I dislike you lol. I find myself starting off good when reading a book but then get distracted easily especially when I want to read the Bible I get so sleepy Uff don’t ya’ll hate that?
Now my family and I are in Georgia settling in a new state where everyone is SOOO different from the Miami lifestyle. I’m excited for what God is doing in our family. I’m also excited to have a group of friends here that we can encourage each other and empower each other to be better. So yep I’m ready for that FREE BOOK!!!!! Hope to connect with some amazing Ladies here.
Blessings,
I live in a rural area, surrounded by woods and wildlife, no neighbors in sight. I drink my coffee on the porch in the mornings, have my camera sitting on ready for capturing any of God’s creatures that might fly or pass by. I like spending time outside and I have conversations with God there. My routine is to come in afterwards, read my Bible, and spend some quiet time with God before I go to work. (I work from home.) Unfortunately, time does get away from me and before I realize it, work is calling. I tell myself – oh I’ll get this done and then spend time with God. Sometimes that happens and sometimes not. I should always put God first. Thank you for sharing these scriptures, your insight, and the one-minutes prayers. I have no book on my nightstand but I do have several different versions of the Bible on my LR end table, along with a devotional book by Charles Stanley. Love you Lyli.