Are You Paying Attention?

Pastor's BlogDavid DivelbissChristianity

Mar 17

Written By P.J.

How many times did we hear that growing up? From our parents, our teachers, our friends, the news, and basically everyone... “PAY ATTENTION!” Those two words are ingrained into our psyche forever!

Flashback with me for a moment to my high school football days. Our coach would use that phrase quite frequently. “Now pay attention here boys...” when showing us a technique, or “pay attention to this guys” when running us through a new play. He always demanded our undivided attention and absolute focus because what he was trying to reveal to us would help mold us into better players, and a better team—if we would only listen closely and apply what he was teaching.

Well, I’m happy to say that we did listen to our coach, and we listened closely! We did what he said, what he showed, and what he taught. We wanted to make him proud of us, and we did. We won the 1979 California State Championship (CIF CHAMPIONS) which was quite the accomplishment considering California isn’t exactly a small, unathletic state. Football is BIG there, and there’s a ton of competition. And just in case you’re wondering, I played defensive end ;)

Flash forward to now. The daily reading on the date I first starting writing this was Proverbs 4, verse 20 - 27. The passage gives us some excellent advice we ought to also focus on with our undivided attention.

20 My son, PAY ATTENTION to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Now scroll up to Proverbs 4: 6-10:

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

What is the lesson in all this? I think it is, if I put the WORD FIRST the word will honor me, promote me, guard me, and protect me. It will bring me favor, make me brave, recover me, restore me, revive me, and make me whole! It’s no wonder that Paul said in Hebrews 4, “The word is alive and full of power...”

If you refer to my previous blog post, I discussed what it means to catch a “wave of God” and asked if you are prepared and ready to ride it.