By Shenalyn Page
“Ten minutes!” Emily groaned. “That’s all the time I have for worship!”
She dropped her backpack to the floor, grabbed her Bible, and plopped on her bed. She leafed through the pages and began to read. However, her mind began to wander after she had read only a couple of verses. Then her phone pinged.
It was Maddie, her best friend: “Can you bring our science project notes to school today? We need to finish our report.”
“Already got them in my notebook,” Emily said, grinning. She then returned to her Bible.
“Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10),” she read. Her phone lit up again. This time it was a TikTok notification. She absentmindedly picked up her phone. Soon she was scrolling through her feed. Moments later, Emily’s mom called. “Time for school!”
“Oh no!” Emily sighed. “I never really had worship! God, please forgive me. I’ll spend more time with you tomorrow,” she promised as she grabbed her book bag and headed out the door.
Sound familiar?
YOU PROBABLY HAVE A SHORTER ATTENTION SPAN THAN A GOLDFISH!
You’re not alone if you find it hard to concentrate on anything for very long.
According to a study by Microsoft, the average human’s attention span has dropped from twelve seconds in 2000 to eight seconds in 2015. Even the ideal time for advertisements has dropped from thirty seconds to ten seconds.
How has this happened?
God made our brains so that they can grow and adjust to changing circumstances. Scientists call it neuroplasticity. That means your brain is a bit like soft plastic. It can be molded and changed to fit your current needs.
Fast-paced entertainment, the growth of social media, and the ability to get anything we want on the internet within seconds has trained our brains for speed rather than focus. Neuroplasticity has caused our brains to adapt to this new world. The result? We now have a shorter attention span than the humble goldfish, which can concentrate for nine seconds!
So, what can be done? Are there ways to improve our concentration? Does God have anything to say about it?
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
God understands how our brains work. He’s the one who created them with the ability to grow. He also knows how to help us focus—both on Him and on other important things in life.
First and foremost, God invites us to ask Him to help us focus. He even gives us His Word to pray for help: “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11). If we give God permission to work in our lives, He will change our desires and abilities. He will transform you and “[renew] your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
God knows that we also have a part to play. We must choose to pay attention. That means ignoring distractions and choosing to stay focused. He counsels us, “Give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them” (Proverbs 4:20–22).
Spending quality time with God each day is one of the surest ways to train your brain to focus. David, the shepherd boy turned king, knew this secret. “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99). David chose to meditate (think deeply, imagine, focus) on God’s Word. That made him wiser than many who were older than him. Studying the Bible deeply will do the same thing for you.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR ATTENTION SPAN
- Turn Off—Mute all notifications (especially for social media) on your phone and computer.
- Go Outdoors—Get outside and immerse yourself in nature. God made the natural world move slowly. It will help to recalibrate your mind and heart to a slower, more focused pace.
- Tune In—Enjoy face-to-face conversations. Give the other person your undivided attention.
- Read Deep—Immerse yourself in real books. They still matter.
- Apply It—Practice giving all your attention to important things. Put your phone far away whenever you are with people or doing schoolwork. This is especially important when you are spending time with God.
- Time It—Set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes and focus completely on one task until the timer goes off. Then take a short break. Your brain will thank you.
Don’t give up! You can learn to focus on God and the things that really matter in life.