Renita! Pay attention!

Boom! Snapped back to the reality of my seventh-grade classroom. Again. ADHD wasn’t diagnosed in high-achieving girls during the nineties. We were “daydreamers.” Too talkative. Shipped off to “gifted class.”

I still struggle with distractions and maintaining focus. But now it’s not just in my head.

App notifications. Social media. Mindless games. Even if you don’t struggle with ADHD, we all now carry electronic distractions in the palm of our hands. Smartphones have compounded the temptation to escape reality, responsibility, and relationship. This Sunday, Chad called it “phubbing” – phone snubbing – and it can cause real damage to us and those we love. Worst of all, we most often “phub” God.

But snubbing God isn’t limited to electronics. It can be anything that makes us forget Him. The Bible calls it idolatry. In Exodus 24, Moses’ brother Aaron experienced the manifest presence of God on Mt. Sinai. Earthquake. Thunder. Lightning. Terrifying voice. All of it. But Aaron went back down to the people. And he got distracted.

In less than six weeks. Aaron forgot. Moses wasn’t around. The people were complaining.

And he forgot God’s power. Why? Maybe Aaron wanted to look good. Call the shots. Just make them happy. Maybe he didn’t believe. Maybe he didn’t really know God. But he made them an idol and they worshipped it (Exodus 32). His downfall was that of the whole nation.

How do we prevent snubbing God? Focus. We maintain focus by (1) setting intentions and (2) removing distractions. Our spiritual health and our relationships must come first.

Plan time for God. Set aside phone-free time each day to meet with God in prayer and Bible study. Put it in your calendar. Yes, it IS that important.

Also plan time to connect with those close to you. Share a meal. Have family devotions. Read a book. Play a game. Go out for coffee. We are all starving for real connection.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

Renita