Do you struggle to focus during your Bible time?
As a mom with two young children, I don’t get much quiet time. So when I sit down to read my Bible in the morning it’s easy for my mind to wander to my to-do list, or remember something I’ve forgotten (pull the meat out of the freezer or put the permission form in my son’s backpack before school). Little visitors asking me to play with them, or hearing a fight break out over a toy are also distractions.
What about you? Do you find it hard to focus during Bible time?
Here are 4 tips that have worked well for me. This isn’t a well-researched list, this is just what works well for me.
Pray
I know, it sounds so cliché. However, praying is by far the best tip I can give you. Each morning my prayer before I begin is “Lord, please help me to focus and teach me what you want me to learn today”. Short, simple but effective.
Some might call this “setting an intention” but I call it inviting the Holy Spirit to lead this precious time. It works so beautifully.
“Lord, please help me to focus and teach me what you want me to learn today”
Mute The Phone
We really are programmed to pay immediate attention to our phone – at the smallest buzz or ding, we’re tempted to check the screen. I’ve found it helpful to mute my phone and turn it face down beside me during my Bible time.
Some may be able to leave the phone in the other room, but I use my phone for word studies, reading in different translations or reading Bible guides (like theStory, our free digital Bible guide).
I’ve found it really helpful to use the Scripture Union Daily Bread Bible Guide because it’s a hard copy and keeps me off my phone.
Find Your Spot
Have you heard the expression “neurons that fire together, wire together”? (Neuropsychologist Donald Hebb first used this phrase in 1949). It means the more you run a neural-circuit in your brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. That’s why it’s important to build habits.
I have a spot on my couch in the living room where I always do my Bible time. When I sit there it signals to myself (and my family) that this is my time with God. Give it a try! Find your spot!
A few tips for finding your spot:
- Make sure it’s comfortable
- Make sure it’s bright (so you don’t fall asleep!)
- Have a table nearby for your Bible, journal, Bible guide, pens (and coffee/tea!).
Set Boundaries
When my son was young I felt bad for declining his invitations to play during my Bible time. However, I came to realize that it’s good to make God a priority in my life and model this for my children.
As I sit in “my spot” and grab my Bible my family knows to give me room (well my toddler is still learning this). Don’t feel bad about protecting your time, and you’ll notice that your family will respect that time – which will allow you to focus.
If you don’t have your spot yet, I challenge you to take a moment and think about where you’d like to make that spot!
