A Prayer to Keep from Stumbling by Victoria Realano, read by Lea Martin.

For you have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may

walk before God in the light of the living.

As a child, I was prone to falling.

In fact, if there was an opportunity to stumble, you'd find me flat-faced on the ground.

I'd trip over rocks, my own pant legs, up flights of stairs, and by simply stepping on the grass.

Throughout my childhood, I'd come home with torn muddy jeans,

and I wish I could say that my clumsy ways ended as a child, but no.

My most epic fall happened at church about ten years ago.

After attending my second service at the church, I stumbled down a flight of stairs in front of

the entire congregation. As everyone gathered around me and prayed for a miracle,

and that I would be able to walk out of the church unscathed, I laid their writhing in pain.

Days later, I was informed that the fall was so severe, I'd need metal rods placed in my legs

to walk in a stable manner. Needless to say, this fall was one that's going to cost me

more than embarrassment. It was costing me my ability to function.

Then the truth is, the accident with the stairs was preventable. In fact, I hadn't even noticed the

stairs. While I should have been focused on walking, my head was completely buried in my phone.

Instead of being aware of the obstacles ahead, I was distracted.

I firmly believe that many believers find themselves in a similar predicament spiritually.

When they least expect it, their choice to give into distraction becomes their biggest enemy.

Our tendency to focus on the lives of others, or be caught up in social media,

overly worried about life's issues, or even our choice to participate in sinful behavior,

...