🌿Drawing Near to God in a Distracted World

It’s easy to overlook how subtly the enemy works.  He creeps in through distraction, guilt, and self-doubt.  He intentionally pulls us away from who we truly are in Christ.

Have you ever noticed that the moment you set aside time to pray, suddenly…you feel tired?  Sleepy?  Overwhelmed?  Distracted?

Or just as you try to commune with God, a whirlwind of disruptions shows up out of nowhere;
A random thought about your to-do list…
A TV show that “just started” and feels too tempting to pause…
A social media ping pulling you into someone else’s highlight reel…
A phone call, a craving, or a sudden wave of restlessness…

Even the urge to clean, scroll, snack, or overthink.

You commit to fasting.  Suddenly your hunger intensifies.
You choose to meditate or journal.  But your mind won’t stop racing.
You plan to worship in stillness.  Then everything else screams for attention.

The enemy is cunning.

He uses not only subtle personal distractions, but also global ones;
A constant stream of media propaganda,
Endless fear-based headlines,
Emotional manipulation through screens, and…
Drama—in our homes, in our friendships, in our communities.

Sometimes it’s our own drama.
Other times it’s someone else’s drama that we’ve been drawn into.
Either way, it’s loud.  It’s exhausting.  It’s draining.
It is designed deliberately to steal our peace.

Drama thrives on offense, gossip, bitterness, and unresolved wounds.
It keeps us focused on people, rather than Presence.
It ties up our time, our thoughts, our energy.  It leaves little room for Spirit to move freely.

🧠 And what about fear?  It comes in many forms.
Fear of lack – “What if I don’t have enough?”
Fear of failure – “What if I mess this up again?”
Fear of rejection – “What if I’m not loved or accepted?”
Fear of the future – “What if things don’t work out?”
Fear of not being enough – “What if I never change?”
These fears don’t just make us anxious.  They paralyse us.

They steal our faith, dull our spiritual senses, and block our ability to move forward in purpose.

But God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear.
He’s given us power, love, and a sound mind.   We are assured in 2 Timothy 1:7;  “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”.
The enemy fights hard to keep us afraid because a fearless believer is a powerful force in the kingdom.

🌿 The Power of Stillness
The enemy knows the power of stillness, discipline, and divine intimacy.
And so, he does what he does best.  He distracts us.

But God’s invitation remains unchanged: “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Psalms 46:10

Stillness isn’t just silence.
Stillness is a posture of the soul.
It’s finding God in the chaos, not only when things are calm.

Stillness is talking to God—on the train, in the bus, while driving, while doing dishes, or just before bed.
It’s whispering prayers upon waking, walking through the grocery aisle, or sitting in traffic.
It’s in taking deliberate walks just to talk to Him.

Stillness is seeking God first.  Matthew 6:33 reminds us: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”.

Stillness is pausing before you react.
It’s asking God for guidance before making a decision.
It’s noticing habits that no longer serve you and gently choosing better.
It’s recognizing that your body is a temple.  Your body is something sacred, something holy.  We are beseeched to tend to it with care.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians about purity and self-respect in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:  “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore, honour God with your bodies.”  

Stillness is listening fully when someone speaks, without planning your reply.
It’s doing your best in whatever task you take on, as though doing it for God Himself.

Stillness is a way of living.  Be aware, anchored, and always open to God’s voice.
But the enemy will try everything to pull you away from God’s voice,
Because…a still heart, trouble-free heart is a powerful one.  When nothing shakes you, you are at your strongest.

💭 The Enemy Creeps In Quietly;
He doesn’t always come roaring in.
Sometimes, he creeps in—quietly.  Subtly.  Strategically.

Through self-doubt.
Through comparison.
Through loneliness, jealousy, gossip, or exhaustion.
The company we keep matters.  Old habits creep back when we surround ourselves with the wrong voices  especially old, toxic friends we already know aren’t good for us.  Peace can also slip away through endless scrolling, replaying failures in our minds, or letting a single careless word echo as if it were the truth.  Even the music we let into our ears can shape our spirit.  Lyrics that tear down rather than build up leave a residue.  And curiosity about an ex’s life may seem harmless, but it reopens wounds you might’ve already healed.

The devil slips in without us noticing and plant whispers which begin to shape our inner world, one doubt planted in our minds at a time.

I’m too fat.
I’m not pretty enough.
I’m too old.
I’ve been praying, nothing’s changing

Slowly, those whispers turn into beliefs.
They settle in like dust on a forgotten altar.
And before long, we’re repeating them, we’re living them, adopting them as if they’re truth.

This isn’t just a mindset.  It’s spiritual warfare.

🌀 The Downward Spiral
One unhealthy meal.  One skipped workout.
A slip back into gossip or negative self-talk.
We rationalize it: “This is who I am.  I was born this way.  Life is tough.  I have to do what I have to do…”

And then we spiral emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

What started as a single step away from alignment becomes a descent through fear, guilt, shame, and apathy.
We drop lower on the Consciousness Map (a powerful tool), unaware that we’re moving further from love, peace, and divine clarity.

That’s when guilt sets in.  And guilt, left unchallenged, becomes a perceived wall or separation between us and God aka ‘sin’.
We start blaming our upbringing, our environment, other people…and in doing so, we avoid the hard, beautiful truth:
👉🏽 Healing begins when we take accountability.

The enemy thrives on keeping us in cycles of shame, but God calls us higher.

The Consciousness Map; helps us understand the emotional and spiritual states we often shift through.

🔥 But We Have Authority
Scripture reminds us in Luke 10:19: “I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy”.

And in Isaiah 41:10: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

Even in our darkest moments, we are never alone.
We are powerful through the Holy Spirit.
But we must continually invite His presence.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to “Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing…”

🌿 What to Do When You’re Struggling
When the doubt gets loud or you feel unworthy, try this:

Pause and pray.  Even a whisper of;  “Jesus, help me” is a start.

Quote Scripture out loud.  Remind God (and yourself) of His promises.  Declare who God says you are in Him.

Reject the lies.  Replace “I’m not good enough” with “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  I am worthy.”

Take the next step.  One small, holy decision at a time.

You are not your mistakes.
You are not your past.
You are called.  You are chosen.  You are more than a conqueror.  You have to work towards believing that.

✨ We’re All a Work in Progress
No one gets it perfect all the time.
But the more we invite the Holy Spirit into our ordinary moments—meals, workouts, errands, conversations;
The more empowered we become to live at a higher frequency, to reflect God’s light, and to overcome the enemy’s schemes.

I urge us all to Keep pressing in.
Keep drawing near.
Keep reminding ourselves that we are loved, equipped, and made for a divine purpose.

Matthew 7:7-8 reminds us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

 

💌 Need someone to talk to?
If this post spoke to your heart or echoed your own walk with God, I warmly invite you to reach out.
You can leave a comment below or email me directly at books@eugenemarillier.com —
I’d be honoured to listen, pray with you, or simply hold space for you.

Please note: I respond personally when I can, but even if I can’t reply immediately,
I’m holding space and praying for those who reach out. 🕊️

 

🌸 Coming Soon: My Vow of Silence – A Spiritual Journal
If this post stirred something deep within you,
I’m humbled to share that a journal is on the way.

It’s called My Vow of Silence — a 40-day journey of spiritual stillness, healing, and holy reconnection.
It’s designed to help you sit with God, hear more clearly, and return home to yourself.
Stay close. It’s nearly ready. 🕊️✨

With love always,
Eugene Marillier
🕊️🌿