The One Thing Holding You Back from a Deeper Walk with God
But Martha was distracted with much serving.
Luke 10:40 ESV
The Enemy of Intimacy
How often do you get your cup of coffee, light a candle, turn on some peaceful worship music, and crack open your Bible… only to grab your phone and check a quick email, respond to a text, or see how many likes your latest post has? Then, ten minutes later, you find yourself deep in a reel about air-frying churros while simultaneously making a grocery list and checking your task list for the day?
I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit.
Every season of life has looked different when it comes to intimacy with God. In the early days of faith, distractions were minimal. No smartphones, no social media, no anything on demand. Extended hours in Scripture and prayer felt natural, even easy. Then came dating, marriage, and children, each a beautiful gift, and each adding a new layer of complexity to carving out intentional time with the Lord.
Creating Space
Now, even with more margin in the mornings, the distractions are more invasive than ever. Phones and laptops ping constantly with notifications from texts, emails, and social media. The endless noise makes it easier than ever to avoid the task at hand, let alone draw near to Jesus.
Distraction is one of the greatest enemies of intimacy.
We don’t need ancient wisdom or modern experts to tell us the effect our smartphones have had on our lives. Studies link our relationship with our phones to increased depression, stress, and anxiety, as well as insomnia and poor sleep quality. Constant digital engagement weakens our ability to focus and learn. And reduced face-to-face connection may very well correlate to our dwindling face-to-face time with God.
Even though Jesus has given us full and unhindered access to His presence, we live so distracted that we convince ourselves we’re unable to hear His voice. We’ve grown numb and dull of hearing.
There’s no condemnation in any of this, but it is a clear call. We need a game plan to eliminate distraction and fix our attention on what matters most: our relationship with Jesus.
Two Simple Shifts
First, get a basic notepad, not a nice journal, just a simple, humble pad of paper. Schedule your daily focused time with Jesus and put it in your calendar like you’re having a meeting with a real person. Because He is. Don’t miss the most important meeting of the day.
Second, leave your phone in another room and watch what happens. Notice how fast your brain jumps — tasks, worries, fears, things to organize. Write each one down as it surfaces. When your time with God is done, grab your phone, transfer the list, and step into your day.
The beauty of this simple practice is that God-inspired ideas will flow out as well. Not only will you remove distraction, you’ll make room for God to move.
Don’t Miss the Moment
Back to Martha, who was “distracted by her many tasks.” Her distraction wasn’t inherently sinful; it was simply mis-prioritized. She was caught up in good things, which is a reminder that not every good thing is a God thing. Sometimes we can serve without even seeing Jesus.
The invitation is simple yet profound: see Him. Don’t miss the moment. Let every task, every act of service, and every breath flow from a heart that has first paused to be with Jesus because it’s in His presence that everything else finds its rightful place.
In His Word
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 ESV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV
In Your Life
What does your current rhythm with God look like, not what you wish it looked like, but what it really looks like day to day? What is one distraction you could remove this week to create more intentional space for Him? And when you do get still, what makes it hard to stay there?
We Recommend
Find your way through grief in Andi’s new book One Thing: 21 Devotions to Clear the Noise and Draw Near to Jesus. This 21-day journey points us back to God in the busy seasons and builds a rhythm of life anchored in the presence of Christ right where your everyday moments unfold.
Let’s Connect
Andi Andrew is the author of She Is Free, Fake or Follower, Friendship–It’s Complicated, and Braving Change, as well as the host of the Coffee with Andi podcast. Her heart is to see the gospel bring lasting transformation to the everyday lives of people around the world. Whether she’s raising her four kids, investing in her local community, writing, or equipping churches and leaders globally, Andi is committed to helping others walk in wholeness, freedom, and bold faith.