The Bible's picture of distraction is Martha, who "was cumbered about much serving" while Mary sat at Jesus' feet; Jesus said, "one thing is needful" (Luke 10:40-42). Paul wants believers to "attend upon the Lord without distraction" (1 Corinthians 7:35). A good prayer for screen time: "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity" (Psalm 119:37).
Distraction is not new. Martha was distracted by good work, Peter by the wind and waves, and the seed in Jesus' parable by the cares of this world. Phones, notifications and full calendars only make it louder. These twelve King James verses name what distracts us, show how to keep our eyes forward, and point to the quiet places where Jesus Himself prayed. They are a good focus for the new year and the weeks before Lent. For a place to start, see seeking the Lord; for deeper attachments, see idols.
Martha, Mary and the one thing needful
1. Luke 10:40
"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."
Martha was not doing anything wrong; she was serving Jesus. But cumbered means pulled in many directions, and it made her resentful. Even good things can distract us from Him.
2. Luke 10:41-42
"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Jesus speaks Martha's name twice, gently. He does not shame her; He invites her to the one thing that will not be taken away: time with Him. See also worrying.
3. 1 Corinthians 7:35
"And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction."
This is the only verse in the KJV that uses the word distraction. Paul's goal for every season of life, single or married, is undivided attention to the Lord.
4. Mark 4:19
"And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."
In the parable of the sower, thorns do not kill the seed at once; they slowly choke it. Cares, riches and the desire for other things crowd out God's word unless we pull them up.
Eyes forward, not wandering
5. Proverbs 4:25-27
"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
Look straight ahead, ponder your path and do not swerve. Focus is a choice made again and again, and this passage works well as a morning prayer before you check your phone.
6. Luke 9:62
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
A farmer who keeps looking back plows a crooked furrow. Jesus calls His followers to fix their attention forward on Him, not on what they left behind.
7. Matthew 14:30
"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."
Peter walked on the water while he looked at Jesus. When he looked at the wind, he began to sink. His three-word prayer, Lord, save me, is the right response when distraction turns to fear.
8. Proverbs 17:24
"Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth."
The wise keep wisdom in front of them, while the fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. It reads like a description of endless scrolling.
Quiet places and a quiet heart
9. Psalms 119:37
"Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way."
Vanity means emptiness, things that cannot satisfy. Pray this verse before opening social media or the news, and ask God to quicken, or revive, you in His way.
10. Luke 5:16
"And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
As the crowds grew, Jesus withdrew to pray. If the Son of God needed quiet places, so do we. A short daily walk without your phone can become a place of prayer.
11. Mark 6:31
"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."
Jesus noticed His disciples were too busy even to eat. He invited them to come apart and rest. Rest is not laziness; it is part of following Him. See also rest.
12. Isaiah 30:15
"For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not."
God offered strength through returning, rest and quiet confidence, and His people refused. The verse is an invitation to stop running and find strength in stillness.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, You know how many things pull at my attention. Like Martha, I am careful and troubled about many things. Turn my eyes away from what is empty, help me put down what distracts me, and teach me to choose the one thing needful: time with You. Give me quiet places and a quiet heart. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Get our free Scripture Writing Plan for November and December · Download our free SOAP study page · Build a quiet daily habit with the 30-Day Prayer Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about distractions?
The Bible shows distraction pulling us from God gradually, through good busyness (Luke 10:40), worries and riches (Mark 4:19) or fear (Matthew 14:30). The answer is not willpower alone but attention to Jesus: "one thing is needful" (Luke 10:42). Paul hoped believers could serve the Lord without distraction (1 Corinthians 7:35).
How can I stop being distracted when I pray?
Pray at a regular time in a quiet place, as Jesus did (Luke 5:16), and leave your phone in another room. Pray out loud or write your prayers, read a psalm first, and when your mind wanders, simply turn back. A written plan such as our Scripture Writing Plan keeps hands and heart on the page.
Is social media a distraction from God?
It can be. Phones are not evil, but endless scrolling can fill every quiet moment that might have gone to God, rest or people. Try a simple fast: no phone for the first thirty minutes of the day, or one screen-free evening a week. Pray Psalm 119:37 when you reach for it.
What if I struggle to focus no matter what I try?
Be patient with yourself; God is. Ongoing trouble focusing can have physical causes such as poor sleep, anxiety, depression or ADHD, so it is wise to talk with a doctor as well as a pastor. Short readings, written prayers and Scripture cards can help in the meantime. See also the mind.
This page offers spiritual encouragement and is not medical advice. If difficulty concentrating is affecting your work, school, sleep or relationships, please talk with a doctor or licensed counselor.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about worrying · Bible verses about rest · Bible verses about the mind · Bible verses about self-control · Bible verses about prayer · Bible verses about seeking the Lord · Bible verses about idols
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