When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4, ESV)
When I play golf in a pro-am or with friends, I often hear, “Feel free to tell me what I’m doing wrong.” After someone hits a bad shot, eyes dart in my direction ahead of these words: “What happened there?” It’s not because I stand on the first tee and announce that I am willing and able to fix all golf swings. It’s quite the opposite.
Why am I reluctant to give you a mid-round lesson? Because it’s actually impossible to fix a golf swing on the course. More than that, while most people want a quick fix, they really don’t want to pay attention to what I suggest.
Do you know that what you pay attention to affects your life?
Take Moses for example. In the well-known story of the burning bush, Moses was minding his own business and tending his flock when he noticed a bush on fire. It was common for such fires to happen in the dry desert, but this one wasn’t being consumed by the flames.
The biblical account says that Moses looked (regarded, considered) at the bush. It was only after God saw that Moses decided to see this great sight (verse 3) that he called to him, “Moses, Moses!” Moses was paying attention.
As I contemplate how much I actually don’t pay attention, I wonder how many burning bushes I have passed without regard. Maybe it has been a person in need of something that I had to give, but I didn’t pay attention. Or has God answered a prayer I held close to my heart, and I missed it because I wasn’t really looking for his answer?
Brain science tells us (without going into all of the neuroscience pieces and parts) that what we pay attention to does affect our lives. However, the problem is that we live much of our lives inattentively.
With this basic concept on the table, we all can ask ourselves, “How well am I paying attention to what I am paying attention to?” Whether at work, practicing golf swings, with family, or especially concerning spiritual matters, we can all regard and consider what we are (or are not) paying attention to.
Are you still paying attention?
If you want to improve your golf swing, you need to pay attention to the movements that will make it better (see your local pro!). As people who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and want to facilitate spiritual change, we must attend to God’s Word, to prayer, to community, and even to the place in which he lives: our body and our mind. It is when we pay attention to these things, that God can transform us through the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2).
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Tracy Hanson
April 25, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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