A Subtle but Effective Spiritual Thief
I got up early this morning specifically so I could spend extra time praying and meditating on the Word—my devotional time.
I began with prayer. It went something like this:
Father God, thank You for waking me this morning and giving me another day of life. Thank You for all Your blessings: our home and the food You provide.
That reminds me—I’m cooking breakfast this morning. What can I make?
Do we have any leftovers?
I’m really in the mood for waffles, but we don’t have any bananas.
Better add that to my grocery list. {Pull out my phone and add it to my grocery list}
Is there anything else I need to get? I know we need onions. Hmm… peanut butter, canned tomatoes…
Oh. Oops. Sorry, Lord. Where was I?
Lord, please be with my son in a special way today.
Has he posted anything new on Facebook? Maybe he messaged me. I’ll just check so I’ll know if there’s anything specific I should pray about today.
And with that, I opened Facebook and lost all track of time until I suddenly realized it was time to fix breakfast.
My devotional time had been stolen… again.
Has this ever happened to you?
It happens to me A LOT!
The Benefits of Cell Phones
Modern technology has many benefits—not the least of which is cell phones. They have brought the world to our fingertips. They make staying connected with friends and family so much easier and instantaneous. Plus, I can research anything I need to know on the spot.
I can get directions to just about anywhere I want to go. I can listen to music, audiobooks, or play games. I can find new restaurants, places to shop, parks, and walking trails. I can take photos, FaceTime with family, keep track of my steps, and so much more.
The Negatives of Cell Phones for Bible Study and Prayer
However, cell phones have also brought many negatives. They are with us everywhere we go. They allow people to reach us no matter where we are. They have opened a window into other people’s curated lives like never before in history. And they are addictive—we can hardly leave home without them.
Consequently, we’ve lost access to downtime: those moments when you have nothing to do and nowhere to go. Quiet time to process, to plan, to create… to pray.
If you’ve ever wondered “How do I focus on God and not get distracted?” or “How do I stop getting distracted by my phone?” you are not alone. Phones can keep us from hearing God’s voice if we’re not intentional.
A Thousand Ways Phones Steal Your Devotional Time
Unfortunately, cell phones are often the number one culprit in stealing our devotional time.
Facebook, Instagram, text messages, email, phone calls… and the myriad of other apps at our fingertips. They make it incredibly hard to shut the world out and focus on communicating with God. This becomes even more challenging if the only Bible you read is on your phone.
People often ask, “Is it bad to read the Bible on your phone?” The answer is: not necessarily. Reading Scripture in any form is a blessing—but using your phone for Bible study does increase the temptation to open distracting apps.
“But,” you might say, “I want to make my relationship with God my top priority. I really do! It’s just that it’s so easy to get distracted with my phone.”
How to Focus on Bible Study Without Being Distracted by Your Phone
So, what can we do? It’s not like we can just flush our phones down the toilet or donate them to charity. How would we work… or even play, for that matter? How would we keep in touch with family and friends?
Let me share some practical tips that have helped me resist distractions from my phone and stay focused on God during Bible study and prayer.
- Turn off notifications. Disable alerts for things like email, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok—any apps that tend to pull you in. You can open them later, outside of devotional time, and catch up.
Surprisingly, you may discover that the world doesn’t come to an end if you don’t read your friend’s Instagram post the second it goes live. - Use a physical Bible. Don’t depend on a Bible app during your devotional time. This simple shift helps answer the question, “How can I study the Bible without getting distracted by my phone?” It reduces the temptation to click into other apps.
- Make a pact with yourself. Promise that you will not open any apps or check email until you are completely finished with your devotional time. This requires self-control and brutal honesty.
It requires self-control because, just like in my prayer at the beginning of this post, your mind (and the devil) will find countless “logical” reasons you need to open one or more apps.
It requires brutal honesty because our hearts can be “deceitfully wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9) and prone to self-deception.
So if, despite your good intentions, you still find yourself opening apps and letting them steal your devotional time, be honest. Recognize that you may not be able to handle having your phone with you during those moments.
- Take drastic measures if necessary. If you recognize your cell phone is constantly stealing your devotional time, set it to Do Not Disturb and leave it in another room.
Be aware you may suffer withdrawal symptoms. Your brain may obsess over what’s going on in apps you regularly check. You may even feel restless, anxious, or “naked” without your phone. That’s normal. If you’ve asked, “How do I get rid of phone addiction while studying or praying?”—this is one of the most effective steps.
Pray for God to give you strength and keep you focused. Remember, He wants to meet with you even more than you want to meet with Him. He is always ready to help you in this struggle.
Think about this paraphrase of Matthew 18:8-9
If your cell phone causes you to neglect time with God, turn it off and cast it away from you. It is better not to be up to date on what is happening in the world or with your friends than to lose out on eternal life because you couldn’t find the time to know God intimately.
Conclusion: Put God First and Win Back Your Devotional Time
Like any habit, it will take time and practice to stop letting your phone steal your devotional time. But prayer and persistence will win in the end.
And your relationship with God will reap very tangible benefits when your phone is under control. You’ll discover it is possible to study, pray, and focus on God without being distracted by your phone.
P.S. This applies to your computer or iPad too. If you cannot resist checking the internet (news, Facebook, email, etc.), you may need to covenant with God to leave your computer or iPad off until after your devotional time—or place them in another room.
Have you recognized any other devotional time stealers? Share them in the comments below, along with any tips for overcoming them.
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If you’re longing for a more meaningful devotional life, I explore practical ways to overcome distractions and develop an authentic relationship with God in my book Engaging with God: Journey from Pharisee to Disciple.
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