“Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract – let Your priorities be mine], and restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.” Psalm 119:37 AMP
It would be an understatement to say that this generation is the most distracted generation of all time. Think about all of the time that we spend on our devices – all of the attention and energy we devote to unessential things – and it’s no wonder that our society is getting further away from God all the time. We can see the devastating consequences of this reality all around us.
The verse above from Psalm 119 is a good one for us to pray daily. We are praying God’s will when we ask Him to turn our eyes away from “worldly, meaningless things that distract” us, and to make His priorities our own. Psalm 101:3 (AMP) is another verse that talks about the importance of what we give our attention to. “I will set no worthless or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the practice of those who fall away [from the right path]; it will not grasp hold of me.” Some people think that what they spend time looking at has no bearing on the direction of their life, but the Bible says otherwise.
Right after the Scriptures tell us about how God’s Word ministers life and health to all our flesh as we set our eyes and ears on it, we are told, “Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23 GW) This is God’s way of telling us that what we give our attention to will greatly affect, not only our spirits, but our bodies. I am extremely sensitive to what I look at and listen to. That’s because I have done my best to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit when He prompts me to change the channel when I am listening to something, or viewing something, that can adversely affect my well-being. If you think that your listening and viewing habits don’t affect your health, then the devil has you badly deceived. You are providing him with an inroad into your life that will produce a harvest of destruction in the days ahead.
The apostle Paul had the right idea when he wrote: “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.’ And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT) God wants us to devote ourselves to things that will benefit us – not harm us or distract us from His purposes for us. Do some honest soul-searching right now, and decide to come up higher in this area today!
Lord, on the basis of Your Word, I ask that You turn my eyes away from all of the worldly, meaningless things that distract me from Your purposes for my life. Make Your priorities my own, and help me to live Your way each day. Give me the discernment and determination I need to act wisely where my viewing and listening habits are concerned. Thank You that as I guard my heart with all diligence, You will lead me in the paths of peace, wholeness, vitality, and success!
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