DEEPER STILL: Week Thirty-Four

What’s The Holdup?

1 Corinthians 7:35

“And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”

Reflections

We are called to serve the Lord without distraction. A distraction is anything that draws our attention away from something else—and in this instance, that “something” is God.

Our Sinful Desires Can Distract
In 2 Samuel 11–12, David became distracted by Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. That distraction opened the door to devastating choices. He saw her, desired her, and committed adultery. When she became pregnant, he tried to cover up his sin by arranging Uriah’s death in battle.

What began as a moment of distraction led to an identity marked by adultery, deception, and murder. A far cry from the man God once called “a man after My own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22).

Good Things Can Distract
Not all distractions are obviously sinful. Sometimes, good things become distractions when they draw our focus away from God.

In Luke 10:38–42, Martha was busy serving while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words. Martha wasn’t doing anything inherently wrong—but her busyness distracted her from the better thing: being with Jesus.

Jesus lovingly corrected her:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).

Work became Martha’s distraction. It wasn’t sinful—until it shifted her focus from Christ.

Do you find it difficult to spend time in God’s Word—but have no problem scrolling social media, watching TV, working late, or pursuing hobbies and perfecting relationships?

Flip Your Time
Give God the first and best part of your day.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).

Try This:
Pick just one distraction. For the next week, replace it with something that draws you closer to God:
Memorize a verse
Read a Psalm
Spend focused time in prayer
Journal what you sense God speaking to you

So, what’s holding you back?
What’s the distraction keeping you from deeper communion with God?

Identify it. Replace it. Watch your relationship with Him grow.

Prayer

Lord, clearly identify the distractions in my life that keep me from developing a deeper relationship with You. Help me remove distractions from my life and focus more deeply on serving You.