How are you reading these words? If you’re like most people, the odds are good you’re on your phone—maybe in bed, between tasks at work, or as you wait for your kids in the carpool line. Your head is down, eyes darting across the screen as notifications compete for your attention.

You could be reading a million other things, and I don’t take it for granted that you’re here. So, let’s get straight to the point:

One day soon, whether in fifty, fifteen, or far fewer years, you’ll reach your final moments on this side of heaven. My fear is you’ll look up from your phone and realize you’ve missed the bigger picture: that every second of your life has been moving you toward a moment when you’ll see Jesus face-to-face. 

Lord willing, you have decades to live before you reach that moment. Even so, the time you spend here on earth is but a blink compared to the eternity you’ll spend with Christ. Forever awaits . . . but are we too distracted by technology and the temporary to even notice?

Tool or Temptation?

This post won’t urge you to throw away your phone. Honestly, I wrote many of these paragraphs using my Notes app while sitting beside my neighborhood pool, book upside down in my lap, typing with one hand. Technology made it possible to capture my in-the-moment thoughts before they escaped.

Like you, I have a complicated relationship with my phone. I appreciate all that it makes possible, but I’ve also read articles warning about its negative effects: the ways our phones are rewiring our brains, impacting our social skills, and diminishing our attention spans. My phone distracts me from the present moment, making me less attentive to the people around me; yet it’s provided many opportunities to reach others with the gospel. 

I’m not writing as someone who has mastered phone usage but as someone who does not want my phone to master me. Can you relate?

Your phone is a tool that can be used to capture ideas, connect with others, and even grow in the faith. But it also has the potential to shift your focus toward what’s temporary rather than what’s eternal. The constant pull of updates and endless scrolling is quietly shaping your affections in ways you never intended, diminishing your longing for Jesus.

What if instead of letting the digital world dictate your attention, you look to the light of Christ to have your fears relieved? What if you cultivate habits now, so that when you stand before Jesus face-to-face, gazing upon His glory is already the desire of your heart? 

Psalms for a Digital Age 

To begin this shift, start by being honest about what’s motivating you. The Psalms weren’t penned in the digital age, but imagine an ode to the source we turn to instead of running toward Christ:

My phone is my light and my escape—
where else would I go when afraid or bored?
My phone is the place I turn to for refuge—
how could I survive without it?

How often do you reach for your phone for reassurance? 

  • Fear of missing out sends you to social media. 
  • Fear of inadequacy causes you to measure yourself against others’ highlight reels.
  • Fear of the unknown takes you to Google to find answers and solutions. 
  • Fear of silence causes you to seek distractions. 
  • Fear of rejection keeps you behind screens rather than engaging in relationships. 
  • Fear of loneliness encourages you to continue scrolling, searching for a connection that will make you feel secure.

Where you choose to go in moments of fear reveals where you place your trust. David begins Psalm 27 with a clear statement of confidence: 

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread? (v. 1)

David describes the Lord in three ways: as his light, salvation, and refuge. “Light” points to God as the source of understanding, joy, and goodness, as well as the force that dispels darkness. God as “salvation” refers to His ability to bring victory and deliverance. God as a “stronghold,” or refuge, refers to the Lord as a place of safety.

Between these statements, David asks two questions: “Whom should I fear?” and “whom should I dread?” The answer, of course, is no one. No matter the enemies who opposed him, he wasn’t afraid because his trust was in the Lord. David found all he needed in the security of God; he didn’t need to run anywhere else for rescue and relief. 

If someone asked where your salvation is rooted, you probably wouldn’t admit that you’re seeking refuge outside of Christ. But habits tell the truth about our hearts. Look back at the bulleted list of fears. Which one motivates you to turn to technology rather than the eternal God? Consider what specific circumstances or emotions motivate you to pick up your phone and what kind of comfort you seek. Then ask the Lord to help you see Him as David did. 

Lord, I admit that my tendency is to turn to my phone first rather than to seek You as my source of peace and security. You are my light, my salvation, and the stronghold of my life. Teach me to place my trust fully in You, so that when I am in need of reassurance from my fears, I won’t run to technology—but to the unshakable refuge of Your presence. 

David declared, “The LORD is my light and my salvation.” These themes that began in the Old Testament will only grow brighter and more clear as eternity draws near. “The sun of righteousness will rise” (Mal. 4:2), and multitudes will cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10). And you will see how the dim lights that distract us now do not compare to the radiance of the presence of Christ. 

The Fight for Focus

As David experienced the safety and security of the Lord, knowing God transformed what he desired most.

I have asked one thing from the LORD; 
it is what I desire: 
to dwell in the house of the LORD 
all the days of my life, 
gazing on the beauty of the LORD 
and seeking him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

In response to this verse, one scholar points out the significance of David’s “one thing” and the singleness of purpose he displays. He calls this pursuit the “the best answer to distracting fears (cf. 1–3).”1 To behold and to inquire, he says, is the essence of worship and of discipleship. 

To behold and to inquire of the Lord is also the best way to handle those distracting fears—the fear of missing out, the fear of the unknown, or the fear of rejection that sends you back to your phone. The more you set your heart on God rather than the endless flow of information, the more you’ll find your fears are quieted by the peace found in His presence. Look to Him.

Lord, I want You to be my “one thing,” my singular desire. I need Your Spirit to help me turn away from distractions to fix my eyes on Jesus. When my heart longs for beauty, remind me that there’s none more beautiful than You. When my soul seeks meaning and purpose, satisfy me with Your presence. Let my greatest joy be found in knowing and loving You, both now and forever. 

From Distraction to Devotion

A focused heart is not formed by accident. It’s cultivated daily in each little decision to resist the urge to pick up your phone and to choose to make Him your “one thing” instead. As you prayerfully ask the Lord to help you determine small steps you can take to focus your heart on Him, here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Begin and end the day with Jesus, intentionally avoiding checking text messages until after you’ve knelt in prayer or waiting to log in to social media until after you spend time in the Word. Consider similar habits at night, making room to reflect and pray rather than scroll before you fall asleep.
  • Create space for silence, carving out a few minutes of your day to take a break from digital noise (notifications, podcasts, music apps, and more) to reconnect with the Lord in solitude. 
  • Prioritize and pursue real-life friendships over virtual ones, especially those within your church family. You need deep, in-person relationships and time to enjoy them without the constant input that comes with screens. 
  • Lean into limits, setting daily restrictions on your screen time. Learn to incorporate a weekly Sabbath or other fasting periods where you spend lengthier stretches of time without your phone in order to reset your focus.

As you do, ask the Lord to help you see the purpose beyond the present benefits of these habits. When your heart is free from digital distractions, the rest you experience is a reminder that you were made for more. It is but a foretaste of the eternal fellowship that will be yours, unhindered, when you are with Christ in glory. 

I have asked one thing from the LORD;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the LORD
and seeking him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4) 

 1 Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 138.