Inattentive

What are some of the things that get in the way of you being attentive to God?

My wondering mind. My distracted mind. My temper tantrum nature. My “I’m the most impressive thing in the room” nature. My desire to be noticed. My desire to be seen. My desire to be appreciated. My insecurities. My fear. My distrustful nature. My unwillingness to take risks. My uncertainties. My perfectionism followed by my inability to be perfect. My relationship with this world. My discontent. My dissatisfaction. My hedonism. My busyness.

What can you do to remove some of these roadblocks in the coming week?

Seriously? (Note to self: read all questions first and then answer.) Prayer, Prayer, Prayer. Praise, Praise, Praise. Serve, Serve, Serve. Rinse and Repeat as necessary.

1.     Why are so many followers of Christ cautious about speaking of God actually leading them or giving them promotions in life?

I am so suspicious of others who claim such things. I guess I am jealous of the relationship with God that others have. My suspicion discounts their truth?

I am afraid of my manipulative character. Am I using this tactic for my personal gain? Or am I using it because it is true. Is it true? Do I try to make it true by adding that God is leading me?

What if someone else disagrees with you? Who is right? Isn’t it easier to keep silent.

If I am not cautious, but others are, does it even make a difference.

2.    What  practices, habits, or disciplines have you learned that have helped you grow in attentiveness to God?

I have made a habit in the last two years of reading Christian non-fiction. I have not dug as deep as I am currently digging with this particular book. I would read a chapter every day and it stayed with me so much more than anything else. I looked forward to that chapter. Sometimes I had to check myself from moving forward. But it has kept God much more to the forefront of my mind that He would have been otherwise.

I have been serving the church in the last seven, seven? years. And I have increased my responsibilities as it were a little more every year. I have dropped a few as they have not brought me joy. And there are still other things I would like to try. But this certainly keeps me closer to God.

As a youth, I was always at church. I loved to be there. I miss that school and church are no longer as connected. But I love that now I have good reasons to be there and am not questioned when I am. There’s nothing like a quiet, dark sanctuary to provide the mystery of God’s Presence.

And it just came to me. The running. I’ve been running in the early hours of the morning since last April and I have seen God in the Heavens and the Wildlife and the brisk, take-your-breath-away wind. It’s the most alone and separate from the world that I can feel today and yet as safe as can be with God. That’s when I feel Him watching me.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:3 (ESV)