Are You Looking At Worthless Things?

What do you reach for in the quiet moments? When life gives you a few seconds of space, where does your attention go? And what does that reveal about what is shaping you?

Do you grab your device without even thinking about it? Sometimes it is automatic. Sometimes it is boredom. Sometimes it is just habit. Can you mono-task or are you always looking at your phone? Maybe it’s better to notice someone, smile or talk to them - you know - connect.

For busy people, we are so isolated on our devices.

I ask myself, “what value is it adding?” Is all this scrolling growing me? Is it increasing anything good or slowly eroding something I actually need?

The Psalmist’s prayer speaks right into this. Before he said “keep me from looking at worthless things”, he wrote:

“Help me understand, so I can keep your teachings, obeying them with all my heart. Lead me in the path of your commands, because that makes me happy. Make me want to keep your rules instead of wishing for riches. Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.” (Psalms 119:34-37 NCV)

The words “Keep me from looking at worthless things” - it is interesting how relevant that is today. I don’t know about you, but it makes me pause and ask myself, what am I really looking at? And how is it forming or changing me?

When he said “help me understand” … do I really keep God’s word in my heart? Am I taking His ways seriously? Are the things I invest time in actually transforming me? Are my reactions calmer? Is my heart clearer? Do I feel like I am standing on solid ground? Or am I letting worthless things fill my mind and drain my joy?

“Lead me in the path of your commands” is more than a nice phrase. It is a direction. And it makes me ask, what path am I on? How much do I believe that God’s path leads to “true” happiness? Jesus said it clearly, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6 NCV) His way really is life, peace and healing.

Then the Psalmist compares God’s rules with the desire for riches. Which one do I reach for more often? Which one do I treat as valuable? Jesus reminded us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 NCV) What we desire (and love) shapes every decision we make.

And that final request… “Keep me from looking at worthless things.” He knows the eyes affect the heart. He knows desires are shaped by where we look. And if I am honest, the things I look at often promise escape but leave me restless. Empty. Unsettled. What about you?

Maybe it is time for you and me to check our screen time. It is already being tracked and it’s easy to analyze.

Are we looking at the wrong things too often? How many hours are being poured into things that do not grow us, help us, or lead us closer to God? What worthless thing continues to live in your life and mine?

We can wait until we are “sufficiently disturbed.” Or we can be proactive and start eliminating worthless things before they shape us into someone we never meant to become. The problem in waiting until we are sufficiently disturbed is that it may be too late.

Here’s the real truth: “something will rule us.” Something will claim our attention. Something will shape our desires. We will try to save ourselves in so many wrong ways.

And nothing we chase can save us except Jesus Christ. His perfect life was lived because I can’t do that. His death paid for my sin - there is no payment I have that is sufficient. His suffering healed the pain from my sin. And His death paid for my salvation. This is the most powerful thing we could know, believe and receive - it’s all free.

How real is your salvation? Does it permeate all areas of your life - or are you still enthralled with worthless things?

Would you consider praying this with me?

GOD, please change my desires. Please turn my eyes away from worthless things. Please pull me out of empty scrolling and pull me into Your Word. Please help make Jesus more than someone I believe in. Make Him the Lord I actually follow. The Savior I trust. The One who shapes my days and directs my choices. Make Your Word my first reach instead of my last resort. Help me manage my bad habits and scrolling. IJNIP amen ♥️