Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
You've been in those moments where you're at a coffee or at a lunch, and somebody's got their phone out and they're scrolling while you're on the other side of the table. They're there, and they're acknowledging you by giving you some very passive vocal cues, maybe. But they aren't looking you in the eye. They're scrolling, barely listening, and distracted.
How Often are We Distracted with God?
How often are we stepping into our time with the Lord distracted?
Let's paint a picture. You sit down with your Bible. You have your coffee in one hand, you have your phone over here, and you begin reading the Verse of the Day. Right as you get into Colossians chapter 4, there's a buzz, and you go to pick it up and you say, I'm just going to swipe on this.
It's a text that comes from a friend that you were waiting to hear from for a week, and now is the moment they decide to hit you up. You decide to respond, and in that you get an email that comes through, and then a picture comes through. Before you know it, you've spent your entire time in the morning scrolling, and you have to go to work.
Missing What God Has for You
Now you can't sit with the Word and get out of it what God may have for you to hear. We're all prone to this, so don't feel like you're the only one that goes through it. I wrestled with it this morning, actually. I got up so quick in the morning. I put my clothes on. I had to run. I had to get to the office, and I missed my time in the Word. I had to slow down and say, Jesus, help me to stay present with You.
Practically speaking, what can it look like for you to be devoted to prayer, to the Word? To have an alert mind? What would it look like?
A great way to step into prayer would be to put your phone on the other side of the room. I know this sounds crazy. I promise you the world will not fall apart when your phone is over there and you're over here. What it does is it removes any sort of temptation to go scrolling when the Word of God is right in front of you.
Imagine Putting It into Practice
Imagine if you put the phone on the other side of the room and you sat with this verse: "Devote yourself to prayer with an alert mind.”
Lord, what would You want me to get from this Scripture? You sit and you listen and you wait. What if the Lord would have something to show you because you chose to dedicate your whole moment to Him?
Devotion Is Commitment
Devotion is commitment. That first word points to you saying, I will do whatever it takes to keep my mind clear and open for what You would have to show me through Your Word and through my time with You.
Practically speaking, putting your phone on the other side of the room—a great option. Another one: If you're a journaler, write your prayers in a journal. Then as He answers them, go back and look and say, I wrote this down three months ago and God came through.
It's a great way for you to remember that He's always listening.
A Grateful Heart
When you devote yourself to prayer, when you devote yourself to an alert mind, you can then step into those moments with a grateful heart. Being thankful to God that He chose this moment to be devoted to speaking to you, as you chose this moment to devote yourself to Him.
