When I was young (much younger), I was under the impression I was very productive at work. I was a lot more arrogant then. A manager suggested I list down every activity in a day, including making coffee, going to the toilet, attending a meeting, etc. After a few days, I found out that my productive time makes up only 30% of my working hours!
While we are not expected to spend 30% of our time with God every day, how much time or attention do we devote to our God? I know we can live with God in the highest priority the whole day. However, are we sometimes so distracted that God is relegated to second place, third place, or even 17th place? Or dare we say, no place?
The world today is overwhelming in information overload. Social media and entertainment can take up most of not all of our time if we are not careful. Work can be another usual suspect. We want to perform well, we want the promotion, we want to show how good we can be. So, we put all our efforts in our work, not realizing our work has chipped way the time we spend with God, with our loved ones, with our dogs. When we get the promotion we want, we look forward to the next one. If we do not get it, we work even harder to make sure we get it.
So many things can take our attention away from God. We jog. We walk. We lift weights in gym. We read. We travel. We find good food. The time for prayer gradually reduced. Daily devotions become weekly.
Every time before I leave home, I pray for Ben. One of the things I pray is for him not to be distracted by things outside the house. How should we as Christians handle distractions in our Christian walk?
Firstly, seek God first.
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? ’For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Mt 6:31-34)
Jesus knows we worry about many things. Jesus does not say, do not eat, do not drink. He does not deny our needs. He will provide what we need. He gives us the correct priority. Seek God first. Follow this direction by reading the Word of God and seeking his face first.
Secondly, take stock of our lives. What is occupying our minds? What is grabbing all our attention? Are we committed to live a life for God? Do our daily activities reflect this? Or do we find ourselves conforming to the patterns of the world instead? As we read the Bible and follow the guidance, the Holy Spirit will renew our minds. (See Rom 12:1-2) This does not happen overnight. It takes time.
Thirdly, ask God for help. Different people face different challenges. Some people spent too much time watching television. My TV is off 24 x 7. Ask God to first reveal the distractions in our lives. Then ask him to help us to be set free from these distractions. (See Heb 12:1-2).
Start now. Do not delay.
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