At the beginning of this year, I committed to reading the Bible in 90 days. Now, before you think I’m trying to be some kind of Debbie Do-Gooder Christian, let me explain.

Bible reading is one of my greatest delights. It’s where I truly hear from God—where I meet Him, where I commune with Him. It’s also the foundation that strengthens my other spiritual disciplines, like prayer and fellowship. So when I committed to reading the Bible in 90 days, my goal wasn’t about checking off a spiritual to-do list; it was about devoting serious time to communing with God.

The plan itself wasn’t unrealistic—just one hour a day. And honestly, when I think about how many other things I spend an hour doing (scrolling social media, running errands, answering emails), setting aside that time didn’t seem far-fetched.

And I started off strong. The first 30 days were sweet. I don’t even have the words to fully describe it, but I could feel myself being strengthened—like my soul was being nourished in a way that was tangible. Not in a prideful, boastful way, but in a real way.

Then, life happened.

Pressing medical emergencies for my family. Unexpected responsibilities. The never-ending demands of managing a home and caring for others. Before I knew it, 30 more days had passed, and I hadn’t even looked at my 90-day Bible plan.

Yes, I was still reading my Bible. Yes, I was still going to church. Yes, I was still praying.

But it all felt so stale. So rote.

That’s when it hit me: I was distracted. Not by sin, not by rebellion, but by the very responsibilities I had been entrusted with. And as I thought about it more, I realized my life looked eerily similar to something out of The Screwtape Letters. I had let my devotion to God be slowly replaced by devotion to duty.

Martha’s Distraction

This realization brought me straight to Luke 10:38-42, the story of Mary and Martha.

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'" (Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

Martha was busy serving. And this passage even says she was “distracted with much serving” (v. 40). And let’s be honest—her service wasn’t bad. She was caring for others, preparing food, and meeting real needs. But Jesus gently pointed out that Mary had chosen the better portion.

Martha wasn’t wrong for wanting to serve, but she was so consumed by her responsibilities that she missed the most important thing: sitting at the feet of Jesus.

And that’s what I realized about myself.

Like Martha, I wasn’t running off into blatant disobedience. I wasn’t ignoring God. But I was so consumed with doing the good thing—helping my family, handling responsibilities, keeping life afloat—that I was neglecting the best thing: unhurried communion with Jesus.

The Subtle Danger of Good Distractions

While the realization of my distractedness is not something I want to own, I’m grateful that God is using this as a learning experience and even an opportunity to caution others against the same. So allow me to admonish you as I admonish myself.

First, good things can become distractions if they replace the best thing. A real relationship with God must always take precedence. Serving others is good. Caring for family is good. Ministry is good. But if these things slowly push out personal communion with God, something is off.

Second, distractions don’t always look like blatant sin. I wasn’t pulled away by obvious temptation; I was pulled away by duty. But distraction, even by good things, still leads to distance. In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis captures this subtle danger perfectly when Screwtape advises Wormwood that "the safest road to Hell is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." Distraction isn’t always about doing wrong; sometimes, it’s about being so occupied with other things—noble things—that we fail to notice our drift away from God.

Finally, devotion to God must be protected at all costs. I love my family. I want to do the dutiful and noble thing, but not at the expense of having a soul that is truly nourished by God. If I don’t fight to keep my affections stirred for Christ, everything else becomes hollow and routine. My soul doesn’t just need routine interaction with God—it needs deep, abiding communion with Him.

Fighting for the Better Portion

So, how do we resist the slow drift? How do we guard against distraction, even in seasons of high responsibility? Well, I'm so glad you asked because this is something I’m seriously considering myself (and y'all know I love a good list of action items, ha!). Here are some intentional steps I plan to take now that I recognize my distractedness and its impact on my walk with God.

1. Reorient Your Priorities Daily – Before I jump into serving, I need to sit at Jesus’ feet. Even ten minutes of stillness before the Lord is better than checking off my Bible reading without engaging.

2. Pray for the Desire to Commune – When my heart feels cold. When I feel myself sliding into ritualistic behavior with God, I don’t need to ignore it. I need to ask God to restore my hunger for Him. And He promises that those who seek Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

3. Memorize Scripture for Busy Seasons – This is an area that I’ll admit always seems less of a priority. But I do think that Scripture memorization can be helpful during these times. When I can’t sit down for an hour, I can carry God’s Word with me—meditating on it in the car during school pickup, while cooking or washing dishes, or even before bed.

4. Set Small, Achievable Goals for Devotion – If I can’t manage an hour, I can manage a few intentional moments of worship and reflection. Life may get a little more busier, but that doesn’t mean I should neglect times of devotion entirely.

5. Guard Against Substituting Duty for Devotion – Just because I’m doing things for God doesn’t mean I’m abiding in Him. I need to regularly ask myself, “Have I allowed this to replace or interfere with my devotion to God?"

The Invitation to Return

The beautiful thing? Jesus isn’t waiting for me with crossed arms and disappointment. He’s inviting me, time and time again, to return, to sit at His feet, and to choose the better portion.

This is God's grace—He does not curse or shame us for our wandering hearts; instead, He welcomes us back with open arms. He reminds us that our worth is not in how well we balance life or how dutiful we are, but in how fully we abide in Him. He is a sweet, loving father who longs to see us come back to Him, our first love.

So, friend, if you’re in a season of distraction, if your time with God feels stale, distant, or routine, know this:

You’re not alone.

Jesus is still there. He is lovingly and gently calling us back to Himself. The invitation has never been revoked. The door is always open to return to Him. The question is, will we choose the better portion?