AttentivenessWe’re going to talk about attentiveness in our devotional today, because if we are not attentive we can’t learn much. Here’s a good definition of attentiveness:
“Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided concentration to his words.”
The Hebrew word for attentive means “to prick up the ears” as animals do when they hear a noise. Why would it be important for animals to prick up their ears and be attentive? (Fear of predators.)
In the N.T. the Greek word for attentive means “to hang upon the lips of a speaker; to listen closely.”
There are many voices that clamor for our attention these days; the TV, radio, CD’s, etc. But whose voice must we be especially attentive to? (God)
Who else? (Parents, pastors, teachers, our elders…)
Many Scriptures command us to be attentive. Listen to this one from
Ps. 78:1:
“Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”
We need to be attentive to the Lord’s words so we come to know Him and what He expects of us.
In Proverbs 4:20-22, it says that the Lord’s words are “life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.”
So, we focus our attention when we read our Bible & we listen attentively for God’s voice. Jesus said that His sheep “know His voice” (Jn. 10). We also “hang upon the lips of the speaker” in Sunday School and church. You know you can sit in church every Sunday, and if you just let your mind and attention wander, you won’t really hear a thing the preacher says.
It’s difficult to give “undivided concentration” or undivided attention at times, isn’t it? It’s a struggle for me, too. I can be doing my best to pay close attention in church and the next thing I know, my mind has wandered off to think about what I need to fix for lunch, or something I forgot to do, etc. Distracting thoughts will always come. It’s what we do with them that’s important.
One preacher asked, “what would you do if a little 2 yr. old ran down the aisle during the sermon before his mother could stop him?” You’d go take him back to his mother or father. Our thoughts are like that. They want to run rampant like a little 2 year old. We train a 2 yr. old so they learn that’s not appropriate behavior in church. And we have to train our minds, too, and bring our wayward thoughts back to the person who is speaking.
Think about the way you listen when someone is speaking… and ask yourself if that’s the way you want the Lord to listen to you when you pray? Or, when you have something really important to say, how do you want your parents to listen to you? With attentiveness.
I want you think about this important character trait we each need to develop. And, as you read your Bible, watch for words like “give ear to my words”, “heed”, “hearken”, “listen,” “consider”. All of these are ways God tells us it’s important to be attentive.
What are some of the ways you show you are attentive?
1. When your parents or another adult speaks to you, stop what you are doing and listen to them.
2. Look at the face of the person who is speaking. Look into their eyes.
3. Acknowledge that you have heard the person. It may be a nod, a smile, or “Yes ma’am.”
4. Remember what your parents, teachers & other adults tell you. When you answer the phone, write down a message if the person is not at home.
5. Sit quietly & look at the speaker. Stifle yawns, coughs and other noises. Don’t whisper, rattle papers or other things that distract others. It's disrespectful of the speaker.
Do you know that attentiveness can be a matter of life & death? Most traffic accidents are caused by the driver’s inattentiveness. They didn’t “mean to” go through the stop sign; they just didn’t see it. Or, they glanced down at the radio, their cell phone, or their CD and in that instant they hit something.
It pays to pay attention!
Copyright, 2007, Laurie Latour.
www.FutureChristianHomemakers.com You may make one printed copy for your own personal, private use. FCH leaders may make one printed copy for each person in their group. Copyright line above must be included in all copies. Permission for any other use must be requested in writing.
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