Where Are You Choosing to Pay Atttention?
Where are you choosing to pay attention?
I was struck by a quote I read recently from the poet W. H. Auden, “Choice of attention—to pay attention to this and ignore that—is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences. Tell me to what you pay attention, and I will tell you who you are.” Have you ever thought of it that way? We have a CHOICE of what we pay attention to. We live in a world with a lot of distractions and things that vie for our attention. More than anything or anyone else, we who are disciples of Jesus need to pay attention to the one who pays attention to us.
Paying attention to Jesus throughout our day isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a practical action. Discipleship to Jesus is a learning way as he taught us consistently in the gospels. With Jesus’ leading and the example of his people down through the ages, we make tangible plans to reorient our minds to Him and his Father’s kingdom resources in the midst of daily life, regardless of what’s going on.
So, then what does this mean for me? Where am I choosing to pay attention today?
It takes intention choosing what we pay attention to. Here are two things you can do today to help eliminate distractions and pay attention to what we should.
First, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus
The author of Hebrews writes, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who…has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:1–2). The Apostle Paul urges the same orientation of mind: “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col 3:1). We are encouraged to fix our mind’s eye on King Jesus, who is seated in a position of rest, power, and all authority. Jesus is not pacing back and forth, wringing his hands, and wondering what to do. Our Lord, savior and friend is paying attention to us, the human situation, our needs, and the needs of those around the world. We need to pay attention to him—fixing our eyes, setting our minds, waiting—while we attend to the news, our needs and the needs of those around us. Take this perspective and when you get it, watch things change!
Next, when tempted to turn inward, turn your gaze to Jesus
Under threat, scarcity and stress we sometimes find ourselves understandably becoming self-protective. We turn inward, we think only of ourselves. And yet, the demands of these days call us outward, to the world around us. The needs of those around us—whether children, aged parents, neighbors, a spouse, those who are sick—require our time and energy. This puts us in a bind. We want or need to move outward in love to others, especially those in greatest need, but our own internal resources feel strained and thin.
How should we act as followers of Jesus in times like this? How do we ‘pay attention’ to the needs around us?Paul gives us this advice: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:4–5).
It’s important that we remember that we are disciples of the living, ascended, and enthroned God. When Jesus called his followers to go and make disciples, they did not make followers of themselves. Rather, Jesus called them to announce the availability of an ongoing discipleship relationship with himself. Every Christian is currently in an intensive, interactive, discipleship relationship with the person of Jesus, and that school of discipleship is always in session. The Jesus who said, “And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” remains with us today by his Spirit. When we are tempted to isolate and turn inwards, we need to repeatedly turn our gaze to the availability of Jesus. Throughout our days we need to develop the habit—now more than ever—of finding encouragement and comfort in the real presence of Jesus’ love. So pay attention to where God is moving through the spirit in your life and the world around you then let your light shine!
In His grip,
Pastor Chris