The Christian Girl Chat

Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. – Proverbs 17:24 (NLT)

So often, I feel like a hypocrite. I’ve led Bible studies, small groups, and serve as a leader in children’s ministry. Even writing this blog puts me in a position of perceived spiritual strength. In all these settings, I sometimes feel the pressure to have it all together.

But the truth is—I don’t.

Sometimes, I struggle to pray consistently. I don’t always feel like reading my Bible. I get angry and annoyed with my family. I get distracted. And lately, that’s been my biggest challenge. Each morning I ask the Lord for strength and wisdom, only to forget that prayer moments later. My mind is not as focused on God’s will as I want it to be. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, and I hope my honesty reminds you that you’re not alone either.

While reading through Proverbs, one verse especially convicted me: “Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom…” (Proverbs 17:24). Lately, keeping my eyes glued to wisdom has felt difficult. My focus drifts, and I feel easily pulled in every direction. But I want to stay centered on God’s truth and grounded in His wisdom.

So what is wisdom, really?

Wisdom is the application of knowledge. For example, I can know that sugar negatively affects my health, but unless I change my eating habits, that knowledge alone doesn’t help me. Wisdom is taking what we know and living it out. That’s why Jesus is the ultimate example of wisdom. He didn’t just know the law—He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17). He lived it perfectly, every single day. We know we can’t achieve perfection here on earth, but through Jesus Christ, His perfection is credited to us.

So what is Proverbs 17:24 really saying?

Because we are imperfect, we’ll have moments when we are the “sensible person” and moments when we are the “fool.” But when compared to Christ, we are always the fool. The only way to live sensibly is by keeping our eyes fixed on Him—the ultimate picture of wisdom.

Keeping our eyes on Christ directly relates to God claiming to be a jealous God and we are reminded of this fact throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:24, Exodus 20:5, 2 Corinthians 11:2, etc.). He is not a jealous God out of insecurity, but because He alone is our Creator and Sustainer. He knows we need Him more than the air we breathe, because He is the one who gives us breath. And He knows when our eyes wander, we begin to worry and we lose sight of the life we’ve been granted through Christ.

How do we keep our eyes on Christ?

1. Pray Continuously
   Prayer is how we connect with God. It’s not for His benefit, but ours—to bring our hearts before the Creator and release our worries, to praise Him for His mercy and faithfulness. God knows your heart, but He wants you to talk to Him about it.
2. Read the Word
   Scripture is our daily bread which means it gives us the “energy” we need to live through the day. It provides life to us so we can portray the character of God to others and it helps us understand what He desires for our lives.
3. Meditate on Who God Is
   Reflect on His character—His love, justice, mercy, and holiness. Remember the times that God has pulled through for you specifically and been faithful to you. The more we make the effort to know Him, the easier it is to recognize His voice.
4. Be Intentional
   Spiritual focus doesn’t happen by accident. We must actively choose to center our lives around Christ each day by setting aside time to sit with the Lord and let him work on our hearts. Don’t just check a box, check in with the God of the universe.

Can we avoid distractions?

Distractions are inevitable. We live in a world full of them. Someone once told me that Satan’s greatest tactic isn’t to get you to worship him—it’s to keep you from worshiping God. Distraction—that’s how Satan works. If you’re distracted, you’ll eventually start prioritizing other things above your relationship with the Lord.

So it’s not if we get distracted—it’s when. The key is how we respond in those moments.

Dealing with Distractions

Sometimes we move too fast and get caught in the chaos. In those moments, we need to slow down and take our thoughts captive.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, – 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)

Here’s a simple process to help refocus:

1. Pause – Stop what you’re doing and recognize the distraction.
2. Pray – Be honest with the Lord. Tell Him what you’re feeling.
3. Ask – Is what I’m thinking or feeling rooted in truth?
4. Fill Your Mind with God’s Word – Replace distractions with the truth of Scripture.

I know it can feel overwhelming when distractions pile up, but I want to encourage you to remember what matters most. If your relationship with Jesus isn’t your top priority right now, start there. Make the effort. He will carry you. He will take care of you. And He is walking with you—even when you feel far from Him.

Trust Him with the outcomes, and give yourself permission to simply sit in His presence.