Pay Close Attention

I remember hearing my parents telling me years ago to pay attention. I didn’t quite understand, but over the years, I’ve learned just how valuable these two words have become. Pay attention doesn’t mean that I literally should “pay” someone named attention. Pay attention means that I should notice things. I should consistently be aware of things happening around me.  I’ve also learned that I should notice people around me. I enjoy people watching for sure. Recently the Lord stirred my heart when He started reminding me that people that I watch, and notice are actually His kids too. I believe that the Lord wants me to notice other people’s need and try to help them. There are people who are takers, beggars and “dead beats” who make it their daily practice to solicit help from others. There are others who are genuinely in a bad place and have a strong desire to move out of this bad place in life. I am trying to notice and pay attention to both groups.

Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and put into prison. He was blessed by God and found favor with the head jailer and was entrusted with looking after other prisoners. He was like a “trustee” in our local jail. The kings cup-bearer and baker were both thrown into prison about the same time and they were assigned to Joseph by the head jailer. Check this out….

⁵ While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. ⁶ When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. ⁷ “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them.

⁸ And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”

“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.”(Genesis 40:5-8 NLT)

I want to improve as a “noticer” of others. I want the Lord to expand my empathy toward others. I have to take my eyes off of the things that I’m working on in order to notice others. I want to improve at reading non-verbal signals from others. There are times when people around me are going through a lot of junk and I’m oblivious because I’m so concerned about my stuff.

People who are good noticers usually have a healthy perspective of their own world. They don’t put too much stock in their own day to day activities because they realize how short and precious life really is. There are so many things in this life that I can’t control and I shouldn’t waste any time on that. I want to have the Lord direct my steps in the same way He helped Joseph interpret dreams. I want to be kind when I speak into the lives of others, but yet I want to speak truth if that’s what the situation calls for.

I want the Lord to give me proper perspective on all the events that happen today and are happening in the lives of others around me. I want to pray for others, but if the Lord nudges me, I want to be His hands and His feet in speaking His perspective into their lives.  I want my attention span to enlarge on His behalf for the sake of others.

Pressing On!

Dwayne