Deep Study in a Distracted World

Thinking deeply is a formidable challenge.

Case in point, as I write this article, I push my mind to what feels like the outer limits of what it can handle. I agonize over each word, wracking my brain for ways to convey important concepts that I’m still trying to understand.

Meanwhile, the distractions of modern-day life compete for my attention and threaten my focus. Yet I know I’m not alone in the struggle to think deeply and ponder important questions. Keeping one’s mind engaged in deep concentration is difficult.

The concept of “deep work”

In his now famous book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, author and professor Cal Newport distinguishes between two types of work: deep work—which requires intense focus, freedom from distraction and prolonged mental stamina—and shallow work, which requires less concentrated effort and can often be completed in a more distracting environment.

Writers are forced to set aside time to wrestle with big topics. They have to step away, block out distractions and become fully immersed in their work.

But when I’m not writing, I float back to the surface, catch my breath and shift my attention to tasks that don’t require as much concentration.

There’s certainly value to shallow work. There are always emails to answer, meetings to prepare for, phone calls to make and personal matters to attend to. These tasks need to be completed and count toward our daily productivity.

But quite often, our day-to-day lives keep us in a state of continuous shallow work. What happens when our daily routine doesn’t ask something more from us? What if our lives are so filled with shallow tasks that they prevent us from engaging in deeper work? Does it really matter? Is the deeper type of work necessary for everyone?

After all, not everyone works in a field that requires creativity or strategic planning, and even fewer are working on scientific or technological breakthroughs.

The value of “deep study” for Christians

Christians are called to do a different type of work, one that requires time and intentional focus: study of the Bible.

The Bereans provide an excellent example of what deep engagement with God’s Word can look like (Acts 17:11). They searched the Scriptures daily to familiarize themselves with God’s Word and learn to discern truth from error. Studying the Bible—and developing an intimate knowledge of what it teaches—provides insight into God’s mind and fosters a special connection and familiarity with our Creator.

To know something well, we have to study it carefully and reflect on it. Likewise, to know God well, we have to thoughtfully study and reflect on His message to us. There is no shortcut. For those who desire a meaningful relationship with God, greater faith and stronger conviction, diving deeply into the Scriptures is a key to being made complete and spiritually equipped (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Whether or not we choose to pursue deep work in our occupations is an individual decision. But Christians through the centuries have found the need to become deep thinkers in regard to what matters most.

Deep study: what it is and how it’s done

But this isn’t exactly groundbreaking news, is it? Fundamentally, we understand how important it is to spend time reading and studying the Bible. We know the difference between skimming a few passages before we hurry out the door and truly stopping to reflect on what those words mean. And we know how easily we can begin to drift.

How do we become diligent students of the Bible in our hectic modern world? Here are a few principles we can apply to help us in our efforts.

1. Set aside nonnegotiable study time each day

One challenge of deep study is that it requires time. We can’t sit down and instantly make our minds engage with the text. The good news is that we get to decide when to fit this time into our routine. The time of day and amount of time will vary, but scheduling helps us make it part of our day.

The struggle to eliminate distractions is a hard-fought but worthwhile battle. Scripture sets a high standard for our engagement with God’s Word. Joshua was instructed to “meditate in it day and night” (Joshua 1:8). Spending every waking moment reading the Bible might be impossible, but there’s great value in setting aside a regular and reasonable amount of time to do so. Our article “Budget Your Time for Spiritual Growth” has concrete ideas for how you can make this happen.

2. Develop a plan beforehand

Knowing what you plan to study allows you to dive straight in and maximize your time. This can be as simple as selecting a single passage or topic or developing a detailed plan to progress through the Scriptures. (If you’re looking for ideas, our free book Five Tools for Spiritual Growth has an entire section on Bible study methods.)

Along the way, you’ll likely find verses or topics that steer your studies in a different direction. Whatever you choose to do, make a plan and see where it takes you!

3. Eliminate distractions

One of the greatest challenges to deep study is the slew of constant distractions around us. Notifications, alerts and the long list of daily tasks can easily crowd out time for Bible study.

Our attention and focus can be constantly yanked in all directions. And the modern conveniences that are supposed to free up our time often serve as distractions themselves, while simultaneously creating the expectation that we should accomplish even more with our limited time.

The struggle to eliminate distractions is a hard-fought but worthwhile battle. As much as possible, remove items that may vie for your attention. Consider leaving your phone in another room or relying on physical study aids rather than electronic ones.

Our deep study time may be limited, but we can make it effective if we’re able to focus.

4. Slow down

It’s easy to measure progress by how much we accomplish in a given period. But that isn’t always true of deep study.

Rather than setting goals to read through the Bible at a certain pace, it may be more beneficial to slow down and read carefully and intentionally. Doing so allows us to ponder questions, seek answers and research words or phrases that draw our attention.

In a fast-paced world that values speed and efficiency, moving slowly and taking time to contemplate biblical concepts feels counterintuitive. But it can unlock deeper meaning and insights that might be overlooked if we only skim the surface of Scripture.

5. Pray and meditate

Five Tools for Spiritual Growth says, “Bible study is one of the key ways we can hear from God. By adding prayer into the mix, Bible study becomes a two-way conversation we can be more involved in.”

And one of the best ways to slow our pace as we study is to engage in meditation. Five Tools for Spiritual Growth also explains, meditation is “the act of stopping to think about God’s Word deliberately and intentionally.” It serves as a bridge between prayer and Bible study, allowing us to internalize the passages we’re studying and the lessons God wants us to learn from them. (Download a free copy of the book to learn more about prayer and meditation and to get a list of sample topics for personal meditation.)

6. Push yourself

One of the main tenets of Professor Newport’s Deep Work is the need to push ourselves mentally. Conditioning our minds to go beyond the superficial is similar to building physical muscle. The greatest growth comes when we push beyond our comfortable limit. As we do so, we’ll strengthen our mental muscles and find it easier to delve deeply into Scripture (Hebrews 5:14).

At times, it will be uncomfortable. Deep study may prompt us to face difficult passages, ask challenging questions and address areas where our understanding is weak. But spiritual growth awaits on the other side of our comfort zone.

Deep study: a vital tool for every Christian

The concept of deep work is widely promoted as a tool for productivity. But a Christian’s responsibility to conduct deep study is about much more than productivity. It’s a vital tool for becoming firmly rooted in God’s Word, developing a relationship with Him and ensuring that we know how to live according to His will and His way.

Deep work asks, “What can I accomplish if I concentrate?” Deep study asks, “What can I learn, understand and become if I give God’s Word my full attention?”

The hectic pace of our modern world presents a challenging environment for Christians. Our world is geared to distract us, steal our attention and splinter our focus. But for those God has called, nothing could be more important than carving out time to deeply and intentionally study His Word.