May I have your undevoted attention?

May I have your undevoted attention?
Oh - I already have it - great.

I thought that might be the case - given the blank stare.
Or maybe it was the surreptitious glances down at your phone (yes, I see it).

I am great at giving my undevoted attention.
Unfortunately - I am greatest at doing that to the people who are most important to me in my life.
I catch myself saying "uh-huh" or "yes, dear" or [nod in assent - as though I am actually listening and reacting to what you said].

Call it a short attention span or ADHD or easily distracted - it ends with the same result.

I am faced with asking only one question.  "What?!?"
NOW, you have my attention (and I just realized I don't know what you actually said).
But I'm listening now...

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Now - pivot this thought to my quality time with my God.
My sister shared a devotion with us this morning that caught/convicted me with this sentence.
"Study the Bible with greater diligence than any other activity of your day."

Really?
Greater diligence / focus / thoughtful consideration than...
...commuting to work?
...actively listening to my spouse or someone important in my life?
...proof-reading/validating my work before turning it in?

God's answer is a solid YES.
Time with Him is more important than anything else I could do today.
Reading my verse/chapter of the Bible is not a "check that off my to-do list" item.

Colossians 3:1-4

3 1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

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Lord,
What was it I was going to ask you?
Oh - yes - fix my eyes on You today.
Open my ears to hear you - this minute!
And stress to me the importance of spending distraction-free time with You in your Word.
What advice and guidance do you have for me today?
Shhh?  Stop?  Listen?
Amen.

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