HOW DOES GOD GET OUR ATTENTION? (DUET. 4:42-44)
A WHISTLE CAN GET OUR ATTENTION QUICKLY. WE USE IT TO CONTROL UNRULY BEHAVOIR, SIGNAL THE START OR FINISH OF AN EVENT, OR TO INTERRUPT THE ACTION IN A GAME. REGADRLESS OF WHO BLOWS IT, A WHISTLE TELLS US TO STOP AND LEARN WHY IT WAS BLOWN.
WHAT DOES GOD USE TO GET OUR ATTENTION? SOMETIMES HE USES THE TOOL OF RESTLESS SPIRIT, WHICH MIGHT APPEAR AS SOME VAGUE DISSATISFACTION WITH LIFE. OTHER TIMES,GOD USES ANOTHER PERSON'S WORDS TO HELP US RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS SPEAKING TO US. SOMETIMES HE USES THE METHOD OF UNUSUAL BLESSING (ROM.2:4). IN EACH CASE,WE ARE TO STOP AND ASK, "LORD, ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME?"
GOD SOMETIMES ALLOWS OUR PRAYERS TO REMAIN UNANSWERED IN ORDER TO PROMPT US TO SHARPEN OUR FOCUS ON HIM. OR HE MAY SAY "NO" TO OUR REQUEST IN ORDER TO GAIN OUR ATTENTION. HE OCCASIONALLY USES DISSAPOINTMENTS, DIFFICULTIES, AND FAILURES IN FOR THE SAME REASON. IF WE ARE WISE, WE WILL QUICKLY SEEK HIMOUT. IN TRAGEDIES,FINACIAL REVERSALS, AND PHYSICAL AFFLICTION, GOD WANTS TO SEE IF WE WILL TURN TO HIM AND ASK, "GOD, ARE YOU SPEAKING TO ME?"
WHAT DOORS IT TAKE FOR THE LORD TO GET OUR ATTENTION? WILL A RESTLESS SPIRIT CAUSE US TO SEEK GODLY COUNSEL? DO WE LISTEN WHEN GOD SENDS SOMEONE TO POINT HIS WAY? WHEN BLESSING COME, DO WE TURN TO GOD AND ASK HOW HE WOULD LIKE US TO USE THEM? DO WE SEEK GOD WHEN OUR PRAYERS GO UNANSWERED? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE US TO GET PAST OUR EMOTIONS OVER DISAPPOINTMENTS, DIFFUCULTIES, AND FAILURES TO LISTEN TO WHAT ARE HEAVENLY FATHER HAS TO SAY? IN TIMES OF GREAT FINANCIAL CRISIS, TRAGEDY, AND SICKNESS, DO OUR EYES AND MINDS LIFT HEAVENWARD TO SEEKS GODS LOVE AND WISDOM? GOD DESERVES OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. . . BUT WE GET PREOCCUPIED/ HE WAITS TO SPEAK WITH US . . . BUT WE KEEP LOOKING AT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
ALLOW THE EVENTS OF YOUR LIFE-BOTH THE PLEASENT AND THE PAINFUL-TO PROMPT YOU TO TURN TO GOD AND ASK, "LORD ARE YOU ASKING ME FOR MY ATTENTION?"
DONT ALLOW YOURSELF TO MISS WHAT THE LORD WANTS TO TELL YOU. BEGIN NOW TO TRAIN YOURSELF TO GIVE HIM YOUR FULL ATTENTION. ALLOW WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR DAY TO DRAW TO YOU TO HIM HE IS WAITING FOR YOU.