Practicing Presence: Scripture

It’s so easy to get distracted when studying the Bible, but the Holy Spirit can help us focus when our minds and hearts are distracted

I bowed my head to pray, but my mind was swirling in a million different directions. Did I unplug the iron or the hair dryer? What about that problem at work that seems to have no solution? This decision that’s weighing on me—which way should I go? Did I answer my friend in the right way when they asked me for advice?

I’m one of the first to admit that I’m an overthinker. And sometimes, when I sit down to study Scripture, listen to my pastor or take part in a small group Bible study, my mind can begin to wander, cycling through all the things that are weighing on my mind and heart. The act of being present—mind, body and soul—isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to engaging with Scripture (since one of the enemy’s key tools is distraction).

So, when you sit down to study Scripture or engage with a sermon, what are some practical ways to be present in the moment and tune your heart and mind to God’s Word?

1. Pray. Whether you’re sitting down to read your Bible at home or learning from a Bible teacher, simply offer God all the things that are weighing you down or vying for your attention and ask him to calm your spirit and that the Holy Spirit would lead you to understanding. Pray that God would help you to take your thoughts captive and focus on the truths he needs you to hear. As you study, you may recognize that all the worries and anxieties are coming back. Pause, pray and offer them to God again. Allowing God to work in the places where our greatest anxieties and worries arise is an act of trust, and a muscle we must exercise again and again. Ask God to help you focus and push back against anything that would distract you from spending time with him.
   

2. Engage your other senses. When you’re studying Scripture, you may be reading silently or listening to someone teach, but if you struggle with keeping your mind focused on what’s being taught, it can be helpful to use a few of your other senses. Listening to a teacher? Take notes or sketch your notes of what the teacher is saying. Reading your Bible at home? Try reading it aloud to yourself or listening to an audio Bible app. Do you need to move your body as you study Scripture? Listen to the Bible while walking in your neighborhood. At a Bible study or church service, you may try holding a small object in your hands to give your body something to do and allow your mind to focus.
   

3. Don’t multitask. We live in a culture that prides itself on doing a million things at once, but you can’t be fully present with the Lord and his Word if you’re also scrolling through Instagram and answering your texts. When you sit down to study Scripture or listen to your pastor, put away things that will take your focus away from God’s Word. That might mean switching your phone to airplane mode or leaving it in the car, turning off the TV or music if you’re at home or finding a place to sit where you’re not distracted by others.
   

4. Ask yourself questions as you read or listen. God uses his Word to shape us more and more into his image. As you engage with it, questions may begin to bubble up. Let them, but bring them to God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Some questions you may ask might include: If this is true, what does it mean in my life today? What does this teach me about God? About myself? How can I live this out in my life?
   

5. Practice gratitude. Sometimes the things that distract us and keep us from focusing on what God is trying to teach us come from our worries and anxieties, and sometimes they come from discontent. Recognize that this is the moment God has given you. It is where he has placed you for right now. Ask him to help you rest in his wisdom and guidance and learn what he has prepared for you. Be content and express your gratitude to God for how he has brought you to this moment and will use it in your life.

We are all going to have days when it is difficult to be present in the moment, particularly when we’re trying to study and learn from Scripture. The struggle is very, very real. But we serve a God who understands that and the Holy Spirit is our strength, our teacher and our guide. Simply admit your need to God and ask him to help you be present in whatever situations you face today!