Our world is a busy place. TVs, traffic, busy schedules, internet, cell phones; there are many distractions and entertainments of life. We have become a people that pride ourselves in multitasking and short attention spans. However, the Bible warns against this kind of behavior.
“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” – Ecclesiastes 4:6
What are some things that fill your time?
One of the problems that comes from multitasking is that we try to multitask God. Maybe we pray while we are driving or doing something else. Maybe we read the bible while listening to music or watching TV. Maybe while we are at church we are thinking about what we are going to be doing later. All of the sudden, God is having to compete with a dozen other things for your attention, which means He is not the most important thing in your life. And that’s dangerous.
“Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” – Exodus 34:14
It is wrong for us to be jealous with our possessions. We should share freely with anyone who has need. But God, rightly, does not want to share us. He wants us all for Himself. And that’s a good thing. But anytime we put something before Him, or even on the same level as Him, we are making Him share us with something else.
What is something that is more important or valuable than God?
Psalm 46:10 tells us “Be still and know that I am God…” Be still with your body; don’t be doing other things when you need to be giving God your full attention (God Himself rested, so should you). Be still with your mind; focus just on God and block out all other trains of thought trying to sneak their way in (and it will take some practice). Be still in your soul; know that there is nothing that is out of God’s control and you don’t have to worry or be anxious about anything (that’s the peace that God offers).
Jesus was a very busy man during His ministry. He knew the importance of going off by himself often so that He would not be distracted while spending time with the Father (Luke 5:16). If even Jesus needed to do this, how much more important is it that we should be doing this?
What some ways you can give God your FULL attention?
Find a quiet place. Be still in your body, mind, and soul. Just bask in God presence. Listen for Him in your mind. Feel the weight on your shoulders lifted as you realize you have nothing to worry about.
Don’t let anything come before God: Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Give God your everything: Deuteronomy 6:5 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Reduce your distractions: Matthew 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”