Have you ever noticed how loud life has become?
Not just the literal noise—but the constant notifications, the endless scrolling, the mental chatter about what we should be doing, finishing, planning, or fixing. Our world is full of digital noise and mental clutter, and if we’re not careful… it will quietly pull our hearts away from the One who loves us most.
I don’t think any of us wake up intending to live distracted. It just happens little by little—one “quick check,” one email, one text, one podcast, one video—and before we know it, our minds are full, yet our souls feel empty.
But Jesus offers us a better way.
The Story of Mary & Martha
Luke 10:38–42 tells us about two sisters who welcomed Jesus into their home. Martha was busy… distracted… pulled in many directions. Mary was settled—still—sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully present.
And Jesus says something that still speaks volumes to us today:
“Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.”
Only one thing. Jesus!
Not the whole to-do list.
Not keeping up with every demand or expectation.
Not staying available every minute of every day.
Just Him.
Mary wasn’t lazy or irresponsible—she was devoted. And that devotion required something we often resist: slowing down long enough to be present with the Lord.
When We Choose the “One Thing,” God Orders the Rest
One of the biggest lies distraction says is,
“If you slow down, everything will fall apart.”
But God’s Kingdom operates on a completely different rhythm.
When we, like Mary, choose the “one thing that is needful”—when we sit at Jesus’ feet, even for a few quiet minutes—something supernatural happens:
- God orders our steps.
- He aligns our priorities.
- He strengthens our focus.
- He multiplies our time.
What we do with Him becomes more effective than everything we try to do without Him.
Psalm 37:23 says:
“The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.”Proverbs 3:5–6 echoes this:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
God doesn’t just bless our devotion—
He directs us because of it.
That moment of quiet at His feet becomes the very thing that empowers us to walk out His purposes with clarity and strength.
I’ve experienced this over and over again. The days I feel the busiest… the most overwhelmed… the most pulled in every direction… are often the very days the Holy Spirit whispers,
“Come sit with Me first.”
And without fail, when I slow down and give Him that space, my whole day shifts. Suddenly I can see what actually matters. I move with more peace, more grace, and more intentionality. Tasks fall into place. Decisions become clearer. The pressure lifts.
Because devotion always leads to direction.
And direction always leads to peace.
Isaiah 30:21 reassures us:
“Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
God is not trying to rush you.
He’s not asking you to hustle harder.
He’s inviting you to slow down long enough to hear Him.
And when you do, He takes care of the rest.
Our Distraction Culture
We live in a time where attention has become the most valuable currency. Someone is always trying to capture it—or steal it.
And if we’re honest, the distractions aren’t always sinful… but they are often stealing from our spiritual life:
- Constant scrolling
- Mental to-do list loops
- Jumping from one thought to the next
- Multitasking even when we don’t need to
- Always being “on call” emotionally or digitally
- Filling every quiet moment with noise
No wonder Isaiah 26:3 speaks directly into our world today:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
Peace and focus go hand in hand.
A steadfast mind doesn’t happen by accident—it’s formed by devotion, attention, and choosing the “one thing” over and over again.
Tips for Guarding Your Focus & Creating Quiet Space
Here are some practical, doable steps to help you make room for God in a noisy world:
- Create Micro-Moments of Stillness
You don’t need an hour.
Start with 5 minutes.
Take a deep breath.
Whisper His name.
Let your mind settle.
Stillness can be learned in small steps.
- Turn Down the Digital Volume
Maybe it’s:
- Turning off non-essential notifications
- Setting a “phone bedtime”
- Leaving it in another room during quiet time
- Deleting one distracting app for a week
Small boundaries create big peace.
- Build Margin Into Your Day
We often rush because we haven’t given ourselves breathing room.
Margin gives your heart space to breathe—and to listen.
Margin helps you not just escape distraction, but choose devotion.
- Meditate on Scripture
Psalm 119:15 says,
“I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.”
Meditation is simply slowing down long enough to let the Word soak into your heart.
Read a verse.
Pause.
Read it again.
Ask the Lord, “What do You want to show me?”
- Protect Your “Jesus Time” Like an Appointment
You wouldn’t miss a doctor’s appointment.
You wouldn’t skip a meeting with your boss.
Your time with Jesus is eternal-impact time.
Put it on your calendar.
Give it a place to live in your day.
Devotion grows where time is planted.
For other ways to silence the distractions check out Be Still and Know God: 5 Ways to Hear God’s Voice in the Middle of the Chaos.
The Transforming Power of Devotion: It Changes Everything
When we choose devotion over distraction—even in small ways—we begin to notice a shift:
- Peace increases
- Anxiety quiets
- Clarity grows
- Gratitude rises
- Our spirits breathe again
We realize that God was never far away… we were just overwhelmed by everything else demanding our attention.
Choosing devotion doesn’t require perfection.
It just requires direction.
One small “yes.”
One quiet moment.
One intentional pause.
One decision to sit at His feet—again and again.
He meets us there every time.
What If We Made This Our Aim This Week?
Ask the Lord:
“Father, where am I distracted? And how can I choose devotion this week?”
You may be surprised by how quickly He answers…
and how simply He invites you back into His presence.
Let’s live this week attentive, present, and fully His.