May I Have Your Attention!
If I’m in a room full of people and someone begins a conversation like that, I’m usually very cooperative and I give them my attention. If they start a sales pitch, they will lose my attention fast. They need to get to the point of needing my attention quickly, because like everyone else, time is a valuable currency. If I’m giving you my attention, I’m giving you my time as well.
Moses & Aaron were about to ask for Pharaoh’s attention. They were asking for his attention as they delivered a message from God. Check this out….
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. 2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. 3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5 When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.(Exodus 7:1-6 NLT)
Moses & Aaron were up in years when this process of announcing the plagues and seeking to lead the Israelites from Egypt to the land God had promised them. They do get Pharaoh’s attention, but his heart is hard, just like the Lord predicted.
There are lots of things that seek my attention and there are things that actually “grab” my attention. I believe it’s very important to be intentional as to what is allowed to have my attention. There are people who solicit my attention in order to get me to buy something from them. There are people who curse and swear to get my attention. There are other people that I give my attention to because they’ve earned it by our relationship. They have my best interest at heart, and I have their best interest – they don’t have to scream for my attention or even get creative. They can pop by, call, text or email and I’m on it.
I want to make sure I give the Lord my attention all throughout the day. I want to talk to Him about everything and I want to listen to His input and influence in my life. I don’t want Him to have to yell or scream for my attention. I want to hear even His whisper as He speaks into my life. He has earned first place as the One Who has my attention first. If I’m giving my attention to others, I want to make sure I’ve given the Lord my attention first. I’ll be better at being present with others, when I’ve been with the Lord first.
Pressing On!
Dwayne