2019: A is for Attention
By Sara, June 2019
Reading a word study on the Book of Hebrews, the commentary says:
“There is danger in not giving Christ and His message sufficient attention.”
Hebrew 2:1 Warning against Neglect
I read two versions:
- For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. (CSB)
- We must pay careful attention. (NIV)
Beware the Sin of Neglect
The word “Attention” keeps jumping up, like the beating of a heart, expanding and deflating. And then, the Lord says to me, “Beware the sin of neglect.”
THE WORD "ATTENTION" KEEPS JUMPING UP, LIKE THE BEATING OF A HEART, EXPANDING AND DEFLATING. AND THEN, THE LORD SAYS TO ME, "BEWARE THE SIN OF NEGLECT"
Continuing with the word study, I extract from 2 Peter 1:16-19 NIV:
“For we did not follow cleverly invented stories… but were eyewitnesses…. The Voice [V] said, “This is my Son…. the word of the prophets made more certain and you will do well to pay attention to it, like a light shining in a dark place.” (brackets mine).
Attention Needs to Be Managed
A couple of days later at church, the pastor’s topic for the day is:
Attention Management
OK I hear you Lord. āŗ
He showed me that in the past, time with Him was my reward for a hard day’s work. But now it has been replaced by the TV and the smartphone. Playing a word game, surfing for news and on social media on the phone became my way of unwinding and de-stressing.
I felt wretched.
How did our relationship deteriorate to that state?
I am sorry but how did my love for you go so cold?
How could I have forgotten you?
But I did not forget you.
Nor did I stop loving you.
But like couples married for a long time, invariably we start to take each other for granted. That is part of our fallenness?
How can we keep our flame alive and fresh?
Is it possible Lord?
Well, He surely got my attention now. Attention needs to be managed or I will lose it.
ATTENTION NEEDS TO BE MANAGED OR I WILL LOSE IT
I decided not to go with my husband on a business trip to New York and Chicago. He now hates travelling alone and dangled a carrot to go visit my son in Los Angeles on the way back.
No, I am going to give the Lord my full attention. So, I checked myself into a local hotel in Sentosa Island to do just that, for a time of quiet and solitude with the Lord.
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