Sunday Devotions - Paying Attention

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. Proverbs 21:11


Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words. Exodus 5:9 


Every Sunday as we walk into church, Yip and Yap grab a binder full of coloring pages and activities and crayons provided by the church. It keeps them busy during the sermon so they don't get too bored. The great thing about their age, 6 1/2, is they are beginning to participate with part of the worship service before the minister's message. They sing and pray along with the rest of us....most of the time. Sometimes, although they try to pay attention, they get sidetracked.  It cracks me up when I have looked over the past two Sundays during a prayer and have seen Yip's hands folded in prayer with a crayon between, one eye open and one eye closed as he attempts to pray and color at the same time.

It reminds me how often we can get distracted. We try to listen to God's message but often something pulls us away. For me it's just the little things that need to get done during the day that fill my mind or my kids pull away my attention when I try to read my Bible or pray. Then when I realize my mind has wandered it can be difficult to get back on track again.

The Bible tells us to pay attention so that we may gain wisdom. Multi tasking is virtually the American Way these days....and we do pretty well at it. But imagine how much we could accomplish if we just really concentrated on one task at a time. How much more wisdom could God bestow on us if we really paid attention...fully, totally to his messages for us? I imagine there is more of God's wisdom available to us than we can fathom.
Dear God, Thank You for Your wisdom which we cannot even begin to grasp. I know You have knowledge within my reach, if only I'll pay attention. Help me concentrate today on Your words. Amen.