“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

We once were in the attention economy but if we were there, then we are running a very high distraction deficit! Look at this stat: “An estimated 177.7 million U.S. adults — or  70.3% of the total population — will regularly use another digital device while watching TV this year, up 5.1% from 2016.”, per eMarketer. That may not seem all that astounding, but consider that just a couple of decades ago there was no other distraction. The impact of this change on advertising acceptance has to be beyond jarring, it must be staggering. The takeaway here is that if we think we can hold someone’s attention for very long, we are mistaken.  We might be able to grab it for a moment, but when it leaves the next best defense might be to be sure we are also right there front and center on the second and third screen.

God knew we would come to this age we are in.  He made us with the tendency to drift, lose attention and get bored. He knows that we don’t stay focused very long.  Is that possibly why we are taught in so many different ways to exercise discipline and to do our best to stay fixed on Him?  Our lives are bite-sized moments that one by one we can make the best of for God’s glory.  Today, at work, there will be many small amounts of time that we can allow ourselves to fix back on Him, or continue to be distracted away.  At the end of today, on the way home, check back in and see how you did.  With a little attention to not being distracted, some great things can happen.

Reference: Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)