I glanced at my phone to check the time; then thought I’ll just do a quick scroll through Instagram before I settle down for my morning meditation with God’s Word. Five minutes tops, I told myself. When I finally looked up, an hour had disappeared into a black hole of reels and stories about people I barely knew.
Sounds familiar?
A week later, the entire quiet time with God was missed. Not because anything dramatic happened; I just had a work deadline looming, and sending across that document before my manager logged into work felt more urgent than spending time with God. By the time I was done with my work for the day, finished up meal prep, and looked at my child’s homework, I was too exhausted to open my Bible.
Here is the uncomfortable truth many of us wrestle with: we are experts at finding time for everything except God. Hours disappear perfecting a work-related task. Mindless scrolling continues until one’s eyes hurt. But 15 to 30 minutes with God? Suddenly, there is no time.
For those paying attention, the irony isn’t lost. The God who literally holds our next breath in His hands gets whatever scraps of our time that are left over (if there are any at all).
God is very clear on the subject. In Luke 10: 38 to 42, Lord Jesus Christ visited the house of Martha and Mary. While Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to Him, Martha was stressed and distracted by her hosting duties. He told 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 and 42, New King James Version). What did Mary do? She simply sat at Jesus’ feet listening to Him. Not ticking off the tasks on her to-do list. Not multitasking. Just being present with Him.
That “one thing” feels almost impossible in our busy world of notifications, deadlines, and endless to-do lists. But maybe that is exactly why it is so needed.
If you notice about the things we prioritise, they are usually urgent but they are not always important. Social media isn’t important. It just feels urgent because everyone else is on it and you feel you might miss out on something if you are not on it all the time. Before you come for me, yes, work is important. But is it more important than the most important relationship in your life? The one that gives life meaning.
Even good things – meal prep, exercise, or catching up with friends – can inadvertently push God to the margins if we are not careful.
If you scrutinise further, you will realise that one of Satan’s most effective strategies in spiritual warfare is distraction through busyness. Corrie ten Boom once said, “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.”
Lord Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, NKJV). Not “seek God when you have spare time” or “fit God in between obligations.” Seek Him first.
That word “first” deserves importance. It is not about how perfectly one can spend time with God; He knows none of us are perfect. It is about recognising that time with God isn’t another item on the to-do list; it is the foundation on which everything else is built.
The lesson being learned (slowly by this writer) is that putting God first doesn’t mean life suddenly becomes less busy. It means we stop letting busyness be our excuse. It means setting the alarm a few minutes earlier than usual or finding time specially for God. It means putting your devices in another room to avoid that “quick scroll” temptation.
When godly things are prioritised, everything else doesn’t fall apart. If anything, there is more focus and more peace because the foundation for the day is built on something that won’t shift and change with every notification.
When asked about the greatest commandment, our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate. Matthew 22: 37–38 records His answer: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Prioritising God and loving Him with everything we are, must be our first priority. Not our career. Not our social life. Not our material goals. God first, always.
Author : Anna Binoy
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