The Age of Distraction: When Stillness Disappears Our modern world is inundated with digital noise and endless streams of information. From the moment we wake, smartphones, TVs, and laptops clamor for our attention. Research shows that when our brains are bombarded with too much information and too many alerts, key mental functions begin to decline. Overload and distraction impair our ability to think conceptually, see the “big picture,” form memories, and even empathize with others[1][2]. In order to function at our best, the brain actually requires periods of quiet rest – times of stillness and single-task focus – to process and integrate information[3]. Yet such stillness has become increasingly rare. Many of us find silence uncomfortable. One revealing study asked people to sit alone in a room with no devices, nothing to do but think. The result? A majority found it so unpleasant that they opted to give themselves mild electric shocks rather than endure 15 minutes of quiet solitude[4][5]. The researchers were “gobsmacked” at how far people would go to avoid stillness[6]. This study underscores a troubling reality: we have lost the art of being still. Instead, we reach for entertainment or stimulation at every moment of potential boredom. From a young age, we are conditioned to constant input. Educators observe that children today often have “little space…for reflecting deeply on any one thing, let alone being still,” such that when they are given a moment of silence, it “feels strangely uncomfortable”[7]. We’ve become so accustomed to the frenetic pace of digital life that quiet contemplation seems alien. Psychologists note that even the presence of a smartphone can occupy mental resources and reduce our focus and memory, a phenomenon dubbed “brain drain”[8]. In a digital environment, our brains are essentially being “rewarded not for staying on task but for jumping to the next thing,” reshaping neural pathways toward short attention spans[8]. In short, constant connectivity has left us habitually distracted, making true stillness increasingly difficult. Always Entertained, Never Rested In the era of Netflix, social media feeds, and 24/7 connectivity, being “busy” or entertained has become the default mode of life. Idle moments that once might have prompted daydreaming, prayer, or quiet reflection are now quickly filled with a glance at the phone. As one Christian counselor observed, “Sitting quietly in a room or standing in the grocery line is no longer a place of opportunity for connecting with God… instead, it is the initiating circumstance whereby we reach into our pockets to pull out a screen and divert our attention away from the present moment.”[9] In other words, the smartphone’s siren call turns every free minute into a chance to scroll or swipe, effectively crowding out opportunities for mental and spiritual rest. This entertainment-saturated culture has profoundly changed our relationship to rest. Traditionally, the concept of Sabbath provided a weekly rhythm of ceasing from labor and worldly pursuits. Yet statistics indicate that genuine Sabbath-keeping has eroded in the digital age. In 1978, a strong majority of Americans (74%) still felt that Sunday had particular religious or spiritual significance; by 2016 that number had plunged to 50%[10]. The decline is most dramatic among younger generations: only 41% of Millennials ascribe any religious meaning to Sunday, and merely 22% of Millennial respondents report that they attend church on a typical Sunday[11]. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 Millennials spends Sunday working instead[11], treating it as just another day of the week. Little wonder that a recent analysis described “the modern Sabbath as a day focused on relaxation and errand-running rather than religious commitment.” Many more people today use Sunday for general “rest and relaxation” (73% of U.S. adults) or shopping (30% go shopping on Sundays, up 11 percentage points since the late 1970s)[12]. Culturally, we still crave a day off – but we have largely lost the sacred dimension of that rest. Even our leisure often isn’t truly restorative. Psychologists and Christian thinkers alike note that constant digital consumption can leave us strangely un-refreshed. Our minds stay busy even while our bodies lounge. One survey by Christian researchers David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock paints a stark picture: the typical young person today spends nearly 2,800 hours per year consuming digital screen media, compared to only about 150 hours devoted to spiritual practices like church, prayer, or Bible reading[13][14]. That is roughly a 20:1 ratio of screen time to spiritual time. Even for young churchgoers, the ratio was over 10:1 in favor of digital media[15][16]. In essence, the input shaping our hearts and minds all week is far more likely to come from TikTok, YouTube, and video games than from Scripture or stillness before God. Kinnaman describes this imbalance as living in a new “Digital Babylon,” an empire of nonstop information and entertainment that subtly colonizes our affections[17][18]. In this environment, the ancient practice of Sabbath rest – a day to detach from worldly striving and remember our Creator – is countercultural. It is also more needed than ever. Not only our weekly day of rest, but even our daily moments of quiet have been hijacked. Think of how often people check their phones in bed at night or immediately upon waking, filling the margins of the day with stimulation. Our devices keep our brains in a state of continual partial attention, making it hard to fully unplug. Little by little, this perpetual engagement diminishes our capacity for stillness and reflection. The result is not just distraction, but fatigue. Mental health researchers warn that never allowing the mind to truly rest can contribute to anxiety and burnout. One study of Protestant clergy found that those who decreased their Sabbath-keeping over time experienced worsening anxiety, lower spiritual well-being, and were less likely to be in a “flourishing” state of mental health[19]. By contrast, those who strengthened their practice of Sabbath reported gains in their sense of personal accomplishment and work satisfaction[20]. The principle applies broadly: When we forsake rhythms of rest, we pay the price in our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Digital Distractions and Spiritual Discipline For Christians, one of the greatest casualties of constant digital distraction is our devotional life. Prayer, Scripture meditation, and contemplative thinking require attentiveness and stillness — exactly what the buzzing phone and the endless to-do list destroy. As one writer put it, “Diversion is the thief that steals our moments of prayer, the noise that drowns out the whispers of grace.”[21] We may intend to spend time with God, but the habitual tug of our devices often intervenes. A notification pings, and suddenly our Bible reading is derailed by an email or news alert. We set out to pray, but our thoughts are pulled away by the day’s social media chatter. The “subtle seduction of distraction” siphons off our attention, diluting our focus on what matters most[21]. Pastors and theologians are sounding the alarm about how our screen habits affect spiritual habits. Author Tony Reinke, in his book 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, observes that smartphones have a way of displacing our spiritual priorities if we aren’t vigilant. We risk allowing our devotion to technology to eclipse our devotion to Christ[22]. One Endorser of Reinke’s work noted how easily “our phones have displaced our spiritual priorities in Christ,” and how the digital vortex pulls us away from reflection, prayer, and even repentance[22]. The prevalence of “addiction to distraction” (Reinke’s first listed “way” our phone changes us) means we struggle to give God our full attention. Indeed, many Christians confess that it is harder than ever to concentrate in prayer or read Scripture without checking their phone. This constant fragmented attention is detrimental to what Jesus called the “one thing needful” — sitting attentively at the Lord’s feet (Luke 10:39-42). John Mark Comer, a pastor who has written extensively on the topic of hurry and busyness, notes that “many have noted that the modern world is a virtual conspiracy against the interior life.”[23] Noise and hurry are not just inconveniences; they actively undermine the cultivation of our inner life with God. Comer emphasizes that “what you give your attention to is the person you become”[24]. If our attention is constantly given to Instagram, news feeds, and digital entertainment, then that is what will form us. Over time we are shaped more by the culture of Netflix and Twitter than by the culture of Christ. The Bible warns that we become like what we behold (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18) — so a life fixed on glowing screens will inevitably produce a certain character (for good or ill). It’s telling that the poet Mary Oliver once wrote, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.”[25] Our attention is a finite resource, and where we direct it reveals our true devotions. Today’s technologies are designed to grab that attention and not let go. Social media platforms and apps are engineered (via algorithms, notifications, endless scrolling) to keep us engaged. We must recognize, as one Christian ethicist put it, that “technology is also not neutral… It has plans for you… They tell us what to do, and, more significantly, what to want to do.”[26][27] The constant pull of digital media can “hijack our deepest desires,” nudging us to prefer quick hits of stimulation over the slower, subtler joys of God’s presence[27]. How often have you started the day intending to pray or reflect on Scripture, only to find yourself sucked into an hour of mindless phone browsing? As the ACCFS counseling ministry describes it, “our deepest desires are hijacked by more immediate desires which are more easily satisfied (at least momentarily) with the swipe of a finger.”[28] In spiritual terms, this is a battle for formation: will we be conformed to the pattern of this world (of instant gratification and constant noise), or transformed by the renewing of our minds in God’s truth (Romans 12:2)? The effects of digital distraction on spiritual life are not merely theoretical. Church leaders have observed very tangible changes in behavior: for example, an LDS (Latter-day Saint) church leader noted that in earlier times people experienced much more natural silence and solitude, whereas “even when we are alone today, we can be tuned in with our handheld devices, laptops, and TVs to keep us entertained and occupied.”[29] He pointed out that as the world has gotten “brighter, louder, and busier,” it has become a greater challenge to feel the Spirit or sense God’s presence[30]. “We simply have too many distractions to capture our attention, unlike any time in the history of the world,” he warned[31][32]. Significantly, he linked this to a decline in prayer: “I am concerned that excessive text messaging, Facebooking, tweeting, and Instagramming are replacing talking — talking directly one to another and talking in prayer with our Heavenly Father and thinking about the things that matter most in life.”[33] In other words, the more we fill our lives with digital chatter, the less we engage in authentic conversation — both with each other and with God. This sentiment is echoed by countless pastors. Many report that their congregants struggle to sustain a quiet time with God because something (the phone, the TV, the constant connectivity of work emails) is always intruding. The fruit of the Spirit, however, grows in unhurried and undistracted spaces. Love, joy, and peace do not bloom in the frenzy of multi-tasking. As Comer incisively states, “Hurry is a form of violence on the soul.”[34] One of the symptoms of what he calls “hurry-sickness” is “slippage of spiritual disciplines”[35] – in other words, when we live too fast and too distracted, the first things to go are prayer, Bible reading, worship, and Sabbath. These disciplines require a measure of focus and calm that an addicted-to-busy life simply cannot give. The cumulative effect on discipleship is serious. A life without regular rhythms of stillness, Scripture, and prayer is a life where spiritual growth slows or even stalls. We become shallow Christians, “choked” by the thorns of busyness and digital noise (like the seed in Jesus’ parable that was choked by thorns representing life’s worries and riches, Luke 8:14). It’s not that technology is inherently evil – far from it. But when personal devices move from servant to master, they interfere with our relationship with God[36]. As that church leader advised, our smartphones “need to be our servants, not our masters”[36]. If later tonight you use your phone to share an encouraging Bible verse with a friend, then your phone is serving a godly purpose. But if you absent-mindedly open your phone and get lost in random browsing or social media for an hour, then you have become the servant – serving the impulses fed by the device. The key is intentionality and boundary-setting. In practical terms, this might mean establishing an “electronic Sabbath” – a discipline of unplugging from devices for a set time – so that you can give full attention to God and loved ones. Some ministry leaders propose taking breaks from tech as part of honoring the Sabbath. For example, pastor Thomas James suggests our modern world may require a “new vision of what Sabbath looks like” in which we regularly unplug from digital media to focus on rest and relationships[37][38]. Ultimately, as he reminds us, “Sabbath observance is about time, not technology” – the heart is to set aside time for God and genuine connection, whether or not that involves turning off the phone[39]. Still, in an age where technology is often entwined with work and entertainment, choosing not to engage (for an hour, a day, or a week) can be a profoundly spiritual act of trust. “Be Still and Know”: Biblical Rhythms of Rest In the midst of this cultural cacophony, the Bible’s call to stillness and Sabbath stands in stark contrast. “Be still, and know that I am God,” the Lord counsels in Psalm 46:10. This simple command carries striking relevance for our digitally distracted times. It suggests that the knowledge of God – an awareness of His presence and sovereignty – comes in moments of stillness. We must cease striving in order to recognize who God is. If we are perpetually busy, always taking in new stimuli, we will struggle to hear His “still, small voice.” Recall the story of Elijah: God did not speak to the prophet through the whirlwind or earthquake, but in a gentle whisper once all the noise had passed (1 Kings 19:11-12). Yet as one church leader lamented, “We are often so busy and the world is so loud that it is difficult to hear the heavenly words ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’”[40] We simply have to carve out quiet if we want to catch the whispers of the Spirit. Jesus Himself modeled the rhythm of retreat amidst activity. The Gospels tell us that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). In the midst of great crowds and pressing needs, Jesus regularly sought solitude to commune with His Father. Mark 1:35 notes that “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” After intense periods of ministry – such as feeding the five thousand – Jesus would “dismiss the crowds” and go up on a mountainside alone (see Matthew 14:23)[41]. If the Son of God needed this time away from the noise, how much more do we? Jesus understood the importance of disengaging from the immediate demands in order to reconnect with the Source of His life and strength. He invited His disciples to do the same: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). These scriptural anchors teach that solitude is not selfish; it is soul-saving. Periods of withdrawal for prayer and rest are part of a healthy spiritual life, not a sign of laziness or escape. In fact, resisting the constant bustle of life in order to pray can be seen as an act of faith. It is saying: “God is in control of the world – I am not. I can step aside from the frantic activity because I trust Him to keep the world spinning.” This is where the practice of Sabbath is so profound. The Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) calls God’s people to stop their labor for one day out of seven. On that day, they remember that God is Creator (who rested on the seventh day) and God is Provider (who supplies our needs even when we cease working). By honoring the Sabbath, Israel demonstrated trust in God’s provision and lordship over time. In our context, observing a Sabbath (whether on Sunday or another consistent day of rest) is a powerful antidote to the always-on, always-producing mentality of modern life. Theologian Walter Brueggemann famously said, “People who keep Sabbath live all seven days differently.”[42] A true Sabbath rest recalibrates our other days – it “messes with” our whole life in a good way[43]. It is both rest and resistance: rest, in that we are refreshed in body and soul; resistance, in that we refuse to let productivity or consumption enslave us. In an age of constant consumerism, choosing not to work or shop for one day is a radical statement that our value is not defined by buying or selling. It declares, as Comer writes, that “nothing in this life, apart from God, can satisfy our desires”[44]. We cease the endless pursuit of more, and instead delight in God’s provision. This is why Jesus taught that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27) – the Sabbath is God’s gift to us, a gracious provision for rest and renewal, not an arbitrary burden. Scripture also highlights the concept of regular quiet time with God. Psalm 1 portrays the blessed person as one who meditates on God’s law “day and night.” Psalm 23 speaks of God making us “lie down in green pastures” and leading us “beside still waters,” restoring our soul. Jesus commended Mary of Bethany for sitting at His feet, listening to Him, rather than being “anxious and troubled” with many tasks like her sister Martha (Luke 10:38-42). The thread through all these is clear: knowing God requires slowing down. It requires listening more than speaking, resting in God’s presence rather than restlessly striving. Consider again Psalm 46: in context, it’s describing tumultuous events – the earth giving way, mountains falling into the sea – yet in the middle of chaos God says, “Be still.” That stillness is an invitation to recognize God’s exalted position over the nations and the earth (Ps 46:10). Applied to our lives, even as emails flood in and our calendar overflows, we are invited to pause and acknowledge: God is God, and I am not. Such pauses are not just for Sunday, but for each day. They might look like a tech-free morning devotional, a lunch break walk without your phone, or an evening set aside for family and prayer instead of TV. These are modern ways of heeding God’s call to be still. Importantly, rest and stillness are not ends in themselves. They are means to an encounter. “Be still, and know that I am God.” Solitude and Sabbath are about creating space to know God more deeply and to remember who we are in light of Him. When we are constantly consuming media or striving in work, we easily forget whose we are. We begin to define ourselves by our productivity, our online image, or our social media “likes.” But in quiet with God, our true identity is re-centered as His beloved children. We remember that we are human beings before we are human doings. In the long run, this has huge implications for our sense of self and calling. Formation, Identity, and Discipleship in a Noisy World The battle for stillness is ultimately a battle for spiritual formation. In spiritual terms, formation is always happening – the only question is by what are we being formed? If we never engage in intentional rest or reflection, the default influences of our culture will shape us. Hours of Instagram each day will quietly disciple our hearts to value image, comparison, and approval from strangers. Continuous news feeds might disciple us into constant outrage or anxiety. Streaming entertainment binges can disciple us to adopt the world’s morals or escape from reality. None of these produce the character of Christ in us. As one author noted, “Our digital habits shape us — often in ways we don't even recognize.” The voices we listen to most will inevitably mold our worldview and even our identity. Christian counselor and author Tony Reinke has warned that “the devastation to the human mind and soul due to devotion to technology” is a real threat[22]. That may sound strong, but consider what’s at stake: If our minds are constantly distracted, we struggle to meditate on truth or memorize Scripture. If our souls are constantly entertained, we find prayer boring and unfulfilling by comparison. Over time, a distracted disciple will become a shallow disciple. Jesus said that apart from abiding in Him – like a branch abiding in the vine – we can bear no fruit (John 15:4-5). Abiding implies a dwelling, a steady remaining with Christ. It’s hard to abide in Christ when one’s mind flits from one dopamine hit to the next on a device. The formation of our identity is also at issue. Social media encourages us to craft a persona and then seek validation through likes and comments. It is easy to begin basing our self-worth on our online presence. As one observer put it, “Image is everything, and for a woman who has built her identity on the sands of how she’s embraced online, the eventual letdown will come like a crash.”[45] That “crash” comes when the constant affirmation of the crowd is withdrawn, or when comparison with others breeds insecurity. In contrast, Christian identity is formed in the secret place with God. Jesus taught us to “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6). It is often in those secret, unpublicized moments of prayer and Scripture that the Holy Spirit reminds us who we truly are: beloved sons and daughters of the Father, created in His image, precious apart from any public achievement. But if we rarely enter the secret place – if we are always looking outward to the digital crowd – we miss that solidifying encounter with God. We end up, as Pascal wrote long ago, afraid to be alone with ourselves, using diversion to avoid facing the “insufferable sadness” of life without God[46][47]. Pascal observed back in the 17th century that people busied themselves with diversions because they could not bear the silence of their own company; how much more is this true today, when diversions are exponentially more accessible! Yet in avoiding solitude, people also avoid God, and thus avoid the very source of joy and meaning that could relieve that sadness. For discipleship – the process of becoming like Jesus – reclaiming rhythms of rest and solitude is not optional; it’s essential. Jesus did not hurry His disciples from one spectacle to the next. He frequently “took them aside” and taught them privately, or walked with them on long, quiet journeys between ministry moments. In our context, intentionally stepping away from technology and noise can be a form of apprenticeship to Jesus’ lifestyle. Dallas Willard famously told a mentee, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life,” because hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life. John Mark Comer took that to heart, developing practices of silence, solitude, simplicity, and Sabbath as the antidote to hurry[48]. These practices slow us down to the pace where we can actually meet with God and where inner transformation happens. The apostle Paul urged believers to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2), and that renewal requires time soaking in God’s Word and presence. It cannot be done on the fly. Moreover, Sabbath-keeping can become a powerful tool for spiritual formation in community. When a church encourages its members to truly observe a day of rest unto the Lord, it counteracts the cultural tide. As one recent study of Christian school teachers found, those who practiced Sabbath more rigorously were notably less prone to burnout[49]. The researchers concluded that Sabbath-keeping “may be helpful in reducing burnout” and improving well-being[49]. Imagine the implications if whole congregations began to re-embrace Sabbath rest: not only would individual stress and exhaustion decrease, but our corporate worship might be revitalized. We would show up on Sunday morning not drained from a week of frantic activity, but refreshed and ready to truly worship. In fact, historically, cultures that kept a strong Sabbath saw it as the fountainhead of spiritual life for the week. It was the day that re-centered all work and play around God. To cultivate this in the digital age, many Christian families and individuals are experimenting with habits like a “digital detox” or “tech Sabbath.” For example, author Andy Crouch suggests a pattern: one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year turn off technology for the sake of one’s soul. These intentional breaks allow space for conversation, prayer, reading, and enjoying God’s creation without distraction. They serve as regular reminders that our value isn’t in producing content or consuming content, but in simply being with God and each other. As Psalm 46:10 implies, when we cease our frantic activity (“stop striving”), we come to know God in a deeper way. And knowing God is the foundation of knowing ourselves and knowing how to engage the world. In practical terms, embracing rest and solitude in a digital age will involve countercultural choices. It might mean setting limits on phone use (e.g., no phones at the dinner table or during devotional time). It might mean observing Sunday in a distinctive way – attending worship, sharing a meal with family or friends, taking a nap, walking outside to enjoy God’s creation, but not catching up on work emails or indulging in endless screen time. It certainly means reclaiming some daily quiet moments: protecting a morning prayer time from the intrusion of news updates, or ending the night with Scripture meditation instead of a Netflix episode. These small practices add up to a life that has margin for God. To do this, we must be convinced of its importance. The world around us likely won’t cheer us on for disconnecting from the digital frenzy. But we have a higher call. The Psalmist modeled this heart when he wrote: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord…” (Psalm 27:4)[50]. Cultivating an undistracted heart that seeks “one thing” – the presence of God – will require swimming upstream against distraction[28][50]. Yet the promise is that when we do “draw near to God… He will draw near to [us]” (James 4:8). Imagine the implications for our spiritual identity and growth if we truly recaptured these rhythms. We would likely find our souls less “dry” and weary, as we allow times of silence to let us confront and release our burdens to God[51]. In the discipline of stillness, “we unplug from our devices and allow the Holy Spirit to help us decompress from the busyness, noise, and nonstop stimulation of modern society.”[51] We might actually feel our emotions again – grief, joy, longing – which constant distraction can numb. We come out from behind our many diversions and let God “search us and know us,” bringing the real issues of our heart into His light[52]. This is how genuine spiritual formation takes place. It’s often painful or uncomfortable at first (hence why we avoid it), but it leads to true peace. As we practice being still, we learn that we are safely held by a loving Creator who wants to meet with us[52]. Our identity solidifies as one loved by God, apart from our work or online popularity. Our discipleship to Jesus gains traction, because we can finally hear our Master’s voice over the din of the world. In conclusion, the digital consumption and entertainment culture of today has indeed diminished the habits of daily quiet and weekly sacred rest. Neuroscience confirms that our brains and souls suffer when we never unplug. Christian pastors and authors lament the effects on prayer, Bible reading, and Sabbath observance in our churches. Scripture has been waiting all along with the antidote: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). The challenge and opportunity before us is to heed that wisdom. By the grace of God, we can learn once again to “be still and know” that He is God – to build Sabbath and solitude into our lives as life-giving practices. In doing so, we resist the tyranny of digital noise and recapture the wonder of a soul at rest in Christ. This will not only enrich our own spiritual lives, but also serve as a testimony to a restless world that there is another way to live – a rhythm of grace and peace that God always intended for His people. As Jesus tenderly invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). In the digital age, perhaps nothing is more countercultural – or more necessary – than responding to that invitation. Sources: • Research on information overload and cognitive decline[1][2]. • Phillips, R.M. (2020). The Role of Stillness in Education and the Problem of Thinking Too Quickly – notes on technology and the need for quiet[7][8]. • Sample, I. (2014). Shocking but true: students prefer jolt of pain to being made to sit and think. The Guardian[4][5]. • Kinnaman, D. & Matlock, M. (2019). Faith for Exiles – “Digital Babylon” and screen vs. spiritual input statistics[13][14]. • Deseret News/YouGov poll on Sabbath observance (2016) – decline in Sunday sacredness and church attendance[10][11]; modern Sabbath trends[12]. • Proeschold-Bell, R.J. et al. (2022). Changes in Sabbath-Keeping and Mental Health Over Time. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 50(2) – Sabbath-keeping linked to anxiety and well-being outcomes[19]. • James, T.G. (2017). Should You Take an Electronic Sabbath? – on setting boundaries with technology for Sabbath time[39]. • Reinke, T. (2017). 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You – insights on phones and spiritual priorities[22]. • Comer, J.M. (2019). The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – commentary on hurry, distraction, and spiritual life[23][24]. • ACCFS Counseling. Resisting Digital Distraction – Christian guidance on stillness and device habits[21][51]. • Hales, R.D. (2014). Be Still, and Know That I Am God (CES Devotional) – observations on technology, noise, and spiritual sensitivity[29][53]. • Christian Post (2016). 59% of Millennials Say Sunday Is Religiously Insignificant… – summary of Sabbath poll and commentary[54][12]. • Cheng, A. & Lee, M. (2023). Sabbath Practices and Teacher Burnout – finding that Sabbath-keeping correlates with lower burnout[49]. • Scripture quotations from NIV and ESV. [1] [2] [3] [7] [8] The Role of Stillness in Education and the Problem of Thinking Too Quickly - Robin Mark Phillips https://robinmarkphillips.com/technology-role-stillness-education/ [4] [5] [6] Shocking but true: students prefer jolt of pain to being made to sit and think | Psychology | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jul/03/electric-shock-preferable-to-thinking-says-study [9] [21] [26] [27] [28] [46] [47] [50] [51] [52] Resisting Digital Distraction - ACCFS https://accounseling.org/technology/resisting-digital-distraction/ [10] [11] Deseret News Sabbath Research Memo - Y2.pdf https://media.deseret.com/media/misc/pdf/DNN-Ten-Today-Sabbath.pdf [12] [54] 59 Percent of Millennials Say Sunday Is Religiously Insignificant; Only 22 Percent Attend Church, Study Finds | Church & Ministries https://www.christianpost.com/news/59-percent-of-millennials-say-sunday-is-religiously-insignificant-only-22-percent-attend-church-study-finds.html [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] pcabookstore.com https://pcabookstore.com/samples/14878.pdf [19] [20] Changes in Sabbath-Keeping and Mental Health Over Time: Evaluation Findings From the Sabbath Living Study https://clergyreligionresearch.duke.edu/sites/default/files/Changes%20in%20Sabbath-Keeping%20and%20Mental%20Health%20Over%20Time_Evaluation%20Findings%20From%20the%20Sabbath%20Living%20Study.pdf [22] [45] 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/12-ways-your-phone-is-changing-you/ [23] [24] [25] [34] [35] [42] [43] [44] [48] Notes from “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer - MickMel https://www.mickmel.com/notes-from-the-ruthless-elimination-of-hurry-by-john-mark-comer/ [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [36] [40] [41] [53] Be Still, and Know That I Am God https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2014/01/be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god?lang=eng [37] [38] [39] Should you Take an Electronic Sabbath? - Lewis Center for Church Leadership https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/take-electronic-sabbath/ [49] A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Sabbath Practices and US, Canadian, Indonesian, and Paraguayan Teachers’ Burnout - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9434070/ This Research was curated by ChatGPT on 9/20/2025