John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
 
Matthew 3:4-6
 
John the Baptist purposefully lived a radically simple life as a sign of repentance. He simplified his life so that his focus could be on God. You might say with John that the “video matched the audio.” He lived what he preached.
 
Unfortunately, our culture often makes it difficult to focus on Jesus when we are distracted by so much stuff. As a result, this season can end up having the opposite intended effect on our spiritual lives by crowding out grace and truth. While shopping and parties are good things, we do not want them to get in the way of what is most important. We often have to repent of distractions and turn back to prayer.  We de-clutter our hearts to make room for grace and truth.
 
Today, ask God for his grace to return to him in prayer daily and to not allow the busyness of the season to keep you from him.