“but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.”
-Luke 5:16
We live in a world of distractions. Although we all say we can multitask, we really aren’t, we’re just juggling all the tasks never completing one. If you say you can listen to music while completing homework or doing those files the boss asked you to do, you probably will get distracted with singing the songs. If you listen to a program of a speaker on the T.V. while playing on the computer or phone, you probably won’t get much from the speaker because your concentration is only half there. And what about our phones, the world’s biggest distraction. “I will get to that, just let me finish my game or collect my items.” “I am concentrating, I’m just waiting for a reply to my text.” And I am sure you can think of a few more excuses.
The problem with distractions is that it makes it hard to make decisions. When we’re needing to make important decisions and our minds are on other things, we might make a rash or hurried decision without really thinking it through. I’m not talking about what color to wear for the day or what to drink, milk or juice. I’m talking about work decisions, family decisions, spiritual decisions.
Jesus knew He needed time without distractions to focus, to bring His spirit in harmony with God before facing the world and the many choices. Jesus took the time each day and found a quiet place where the only distraction was the birds chirping or wind blowing through the trees. There He could have a clear mind to make decisions.
We don’t have to go to the hillside each time we need to make decisions, but we do need to find that quiet place and tune out distractions. There we can open scripture and tune in with God in prayer. He can make decision making all the easier.