Confessing the Sin of Distraction 🫨

If you Confess, He will Forgive.

Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern in how I respond to life’s demands. My sentences often start with phrases like, “I’ve got to…” or “I have to….” I usually say this when I’m busy or when someone asks for my help: “Sorry, I’ve got too much going on right now,” or “I wish I could, but I have to get going.” These are responses we can all relate to—our lives are busy, and the list of things that need to get done never seems to end.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

It’s easy to justify saying these things to others. After all, we do have responsibilities. But lately, I’ve also realized that I say this to God. “Sorry, God, I can’t meet with you in the mornings. I worked late and need the rest.” Or, “God, I have to get back to my list; I don’t have time to pray right now.” If we’re honest, some of us are even thinking it right now: “I’ve got so much going on that I can’t finish this post.”

We sometimes even project our own busyness onto God. Have you ever thought, God must be too busy for me? We tell ourselves that God has bigger things to handle, more important people to care for. Underneath it all, we doubt we’re significant enough to capture His attention, too. (But is that really true?)

Photo by Nsey Benajah on Unsplash

Scripture tells a different story. Psalm 116:1-2 says:

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

God’s ear is inclined toward us—always attentive, always listening. This is not the picture of a distant or distracted deity, but of a personal God who bends down to hear our every whisper, our every cry. Even when we struggle to make time for Him, He is always ready to meet with us.

The truth is, our schedules and priorities often overshadow our relationship with God. Do you and I drop everything to connect with Him? Or do we squeeze Him into the cracks of our day, treating time with Him as optional? Maybe it feels like He doesn’t fit into our busy lives because He’s too big. But the problem isn’t His size; it’s our perspective. Instead of working around Him, we’re called to center our lives on Him. God says, “I am always available to meet with you.” He will never reject a willing heart.

Photo by Josh Eckstein on Unsplash

At this moment, let’s pause and reflect. Will you take this moment to confess how your schedule has overshadowed your relationship with Him? Will we repent of our wandering hearts and seek the Lord while He may be found? As Isaiah 55:6 reminds us, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” God’s availability is an invitation to turn back to Him, not with excuses, but with a heart open to His presence.

Let’s join together now in admitting our misplaced priorities and seeking God’s grace by praying the prayer of confession found here.

(pray aloud)

Gracious God, We confess that we have let the busyness of life distract us from You. We have prioritized our plans over Your presence and doubted Your care for us in moments of stress and chaos. Forgive us for our wandering hearts and misplaced priorities. Draw us back to You, Lord, and help us to trust in Your steadfast love, resting in the assurance that You hear our cries and are always near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(allow at least 30 seconds of silently confessing your sin)

[Continuing in Prayer] Jesus, thank you for hearing our prayer and bringing us forgiveness on the cross. Lord, we rejoice at your resurrection from the dead and our freedom from sin. We are grateful for your word, which assures us of your unfailing love, saying, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). You also remind us in Your Word, “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:7). We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; through faith in Christ, we are saved. Lord, encourage our assurance through our faithfulness to you. And thank you, God, for giving us the Lord’s Prayer, which teaches us all how to pray, saying:

“Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”

Thanks for praying; God bless you! I hope you’ll return to pray next Saturday at 10 AM.

- Rev. Bo Kyle