The Thief Wants to Steal and Kill and Destroy Your Concentration
One of the struggles I’ve been working on in my life is improving my concentration. The older I got, the more I realised how hard it was to finish a novel, or to focus long enough to plan out how I was going to reach a goal I had set for myself five years ago. Honestly, it’s always been an issue I never thought I needed to address—but during the pandemic, my attention span took a beating, and my concentration suffered horribly. When you live in a suburb your government deems a risk and you can’t travel more than two kilometres outside your home, you end up spending a lot more time staring at a screen—and getting used to it.
What made me want to get my concentration back wasn’t just productivity or cutting down screen time. It was because I wanted to hear from God more clearly. I was asking Him for direction about my job situation. I was tired of working for someone else and wanted to start my own business. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). The problem was, I couldn’t hear His voice when I started seeking an answer. My head was so full of noise that even reading the Bible in my one‑on‑one time with God felt like climbing a mountain. Getting the “what” from God seemed impossible because my mind was so scattered. I desperately needed deliverance from that fog.
Recognizing the Thief
Jesus wasn’t exaggerating when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). We often imagine that verse in terms of physical harm—someone charging at you with a sword. But I’ve come to see that the devil has figured out the best way to ruin someone is by grabbing their attention, stirring their emotions, and making distraction so addictive that it steals, kills, and destroys our concentration.
I had to face the truth: the enemy knew that if he could ruin my concentration, I would not only lament about not being able to hear God, but also fail to carry out the plans He had placed in my heart. After some searching, the number one culprit was obvious: social media.
I’ve written before about being freed from maladaptive daydreaming, and a big part of my healing was cutting off most of what I consumed online. Strangely, TV shows and movies didn’t affect me the same way. But social media? That was the thief of my focus. I’m not too proud to admit that I had been a sucker for rage bait on the internet—those controversial opinion pieces that get everyone riled up, that everyone likes to gossip about. Yup, sign me up.
Martha, Mary, and the Better Portion
I think the main reason our condemned enemy works so hard to distract us is because he doesn’t want us spending time with Jesus or hearing the plans the Father has for us. Martha knew this struggle well—and I don’t judge her, because I’ve acted the same way.
When Jesus visited Martha and Mary’s home, Mary sat at His feet, soaking in His words. Martha, meanwhile, was stressed out, running around trying to be the perfect hostess. Jesus gently told her that she was worried about the wrong thing. Mary had chosen the better portion.
On the surface, Martha’s actions seemed good—wasn’t she just serving her guest? But maybe the Lord was teaching her (and us) that there will always be tasks to do, or content online that seems interesting, but the greatest priority is our relationship with Him. The better choice is to pause, sit at His feet, and receive His counsel.
What We Feed Our Minds
Paul gives us a clear filter in Philippians 4:8 (NKJV):
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Growing up, I used to think what Paul was describing was boring—that the only things I could watch or listen to would be void of any fun or controversy. But now, as I’ve been regaining my concentration this year, I understand what Paul was really saying to the church in Philippi.
When it comes to guarding your concentration, it’s not just about how much time you spend on a medium (for me it was social media), but what you consume. For example, if I go online to research how to make a zine, I can spend an hour learning, create something, and then move on to other tasks. I’m not thinking about it when I go to sleep. I’m not zoning out when I’m trying to read a Bible verse. But if I watch a YouTube creator rant about politics I disagree with, suddenly I’m ready to throw virtual hands.
And let me just say this plainly to my fellow Christians: stay off the opinion content. God has been trying to speak to you about the assignment He has for your life, but you can’t hear Him because you’re too busy listening to voices you don’t even like. You think about it, you talk about it, you argue about it—and none of it is productive. Start getting comfortable with clicking “Not Interested” on YouTube.
Why It Matters
Like I said before, the main reason our condemned enemy has been working overtime to take our concentration is because he doesn’t want us to be alert. He doesn’t want us looking up from our phones and seeing the vile things that he has been doing.
1 Peter 5:8 warns us: “Be sober [well balanced and self‑disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.”
Satan knows his eternity is sealed in Hell. So in the meantime, he wants to drag you down with him—or at the very least, ruin your life so badly that you can’t even see where you’re going. And one of his most effective weapons today is distraction.
Taking Back Your Focus
Reclaiming your concentration isn’t just about productivity hacks. It’s about spiritual warfare. Every time you choose to silence the noise, to turn away from empty opinions, and to fix your mind on what is true and lovely, you’re resisting the thief. You’re reclaiming the space where God’s voice can be heard.
Your focus is sacred. Guard it.
Reclaim Your Focus
If you are at a place in your life where you want to start taking action with getting your focus back, ‘Reclaim Your Focus’ is a gentle devotional guide to help you quiet distractions, guard your mind, and return your attention to God. With Scripture, reflections, and prayers, it invites you back into presence and clarity.
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