Living Present in a Distracted World - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - June 8, 2026

Audio By Carbonatix

"Show me, Lord, my life's end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is" (Psalm 39:4, NIV). 

The average attention span of even adults is getting shorter and shorter, thanks to smartphones and the plethora of apps that entertain as well as steal much of our time. We live in an age of rapid technological advancements, but sadly, technology is also making our society extremely distracted. 

As we live in the great information age, we are bombarded with opportunities to fill our time and minds with so many things that can so easily replace our time for fellowship with the Lord and with others. 

The information available to us, literally at our fingertips, at all times, is a wonderful gift. Still, the mobile device we carry in our purses and pockets can also be a distraction that follows us everywhere we go. If we are not careful, we will miss the opportunity to create memories with the loved ones the Lord has placed around us. 

Although our cellphones, tablets, laptops, etc., are not inherently evil, we need to be cautious about how much time we devote to them. We need to be aware of where we are directing our focus. We need to be attentive to what is capturing our attention and pulling us away from the life that is happening all around us. How many times have you grabbed your phone to record what was happening in front of you, quickly post it on social media, and miss being present in the moment with friends and family? I'm guilty of this so many times, and I'm sure my children would rather have my full attention than have it on my phone. What amount of time do you spend mindlessly scrolling instead of reading your Bible and praying? Time is currency we don't get back, and how we spend it matters greatly to the Lord. 

The reality is that our time here on earth is fleeting. James 4 says, "Life is a vapor." We cannot afford to live distracted or waste the precious time that we have. David asks the Lord to help him see how precious this time is in Psalm 39:

"Show me, Lord, my life's end

and the number of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is" (Psalm 39:4, NIV).

Having this mindset keeps us rooted in the present and focused on how much of a gift time is, knowing that ultimately, God holds our lives in His hand and has set the number of days we have here on earth. Let's be intentional about how we spend our time and fight to stay in the moment as best we can, instead of allowing temporal things like possessions and entertainment to have our gaze. The distractions are endless throughout the day, and it's so easy for our eyes and minds to become focused on lesser things. We should remember to stay connected to the Vine (John 15), abiding in Him, knowing that we must remain dependent upon Him for all things and be thankful and content for His new mercies available to us every single day. We can be thankful for the benefits of the tools and global connections that technology brings, but we shouldn't allow it to rob us of our connection to Jesus and others. Let's un-connect for a while, refocus, and ask the Lord to help us live in the moment and not take any of it for granted.

Dear Lord,

Sometimes I find myself distracted by temporal things that steal my focus from what truly matters. My heart grows dull and distant from You and others when I become consumed with entertainment and worldly pursuits. I need your help to keep my eyes fixed on the here and now, knowing that each moment you have given me is a gift. I long to use my time wisely and for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

Photo credit: © Getty Images/Antonio Guillem

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less

If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.

Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.

Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.

I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!