Last night, as Terri and I were having dinner at a local Italian restaurant just down the street from us, she noticed a couple sitting nearby who were eyes deep into their phones, missing the opportunity to simply enjoy each other’s company.
Our phones are just one of the ways we live distracted and struggle to pay attention. Being present may be the greatest struggle of our time.
We are surrounded by noise and drowning in notifications, opinions, and demands vying for our attention.
In the Bible, we see Jesus repeatedly withdraw to quiet places to pray. He understood that a distracted heart struggles to hear from the Father.
Spiritual formation requires attention, not more information.
We don’t need more activity. We need a heart that is present before God.
What has our attention is shaping us.
Is it shaping us toward Christ?
Psalm 46 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Stillness means making room to listen and to enjoy the company of the Great Creator of Everything There Is. That’s who God is: the maker of everything. And He is inviting us to spend time with Him.
In our noisy, contentious world the most spiritual thing we can do is be fully present with Him and those we love.
Put down your phone. Pay attention. You’ll thank me for it later.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
© 2026 Rainer Bantau | The Devotional Guy™ | All Rights Reserved
The Devotional Guy™ 
True. Yet, they are also something that helps us immensely. I’ve had three interviews this past week that would have required me to drive or fly to their destination if it weren’t for smart technology like our phones and tablets. I’m able to write and communicate to people in ways that I could not otherwise because I can use my phone and my tablet to create and publish on demand. I’ve even watched a sermon on my phone this past week. So there are benefits. But I also need to establish boundaries and assert some discipline so I don’t miss out on the world around me. Thanks for engaging in this conversation, Nicola. 🙏
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It’s our modern sickness. I’ve been there too.
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Yes, exactly, Nicola. It can become a tool of isolation, or perhaps I should say, has become. I’m as guilty as anyone. It’s easy to get caught up in it.
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It’s so true. I really noticed this when away. People said when travelling in Japan not to talk, be quiet on public transport and that it was cultural. I found it was because the commuters had their heads in their phones with headphones on constantly. Even at lunchtimes I noticed they sat alone just watching their phones. Isolation. How sad when a phone becomes more important and distracting than the person you are with. It’s so easy for us all to get sucked into this. Thanks for highlighting Rainer.
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You’re a better man than me, David. I’m not able to leave it behind. I’m so used to it being a necessary part of work. But that seems like the only way unless I make the intentional decision to stay off it and stick with it.
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I’ve discovered the only way to stay off my phone is to leave it behind. It sometimes feels like I’m missing an appendage, but I can’t look at it if it’s not in my pocket to begin with.
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Amen 🙏, brother! And I’m guilty of this, too. So it’s more of a note to self than a statement about our culture. But it’s so evident all around us…
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I couldn’t agree more Rainer! The mobile phone has become the opium of the masses. I remember when public transport used to buzz with conversation, now the heads are all bowed in worship of Google. Even sadder is when folk have the need for their phone in church. God bless you and Terri today my brother 🙏
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