You have heard the saying, “Give me your undivided attention”. That is said when there is an important statement going to be said.
In this day of so much information coming our way, we are divided more than ever.
Proverbs 4:20-22
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
My son – hearing God’s voice is personal, intangible, & present in time.
Personal: know His voice & hearing His voice. Not just relating to Him, but know Him. Our hearts open only to His voice only. We hear His voice.
Intangible: can’t be touch. Not with touch, only with hearing ( not just with our ears but with our heart) Not a building, books, pews, or anything we can touch.
Oh Lord give me a hearing heart.
Always present: present in time. Always now, not in the past or future. Now… a voice has no past or future… “I am”, He is… listen in the Now, live in the now, & hear in the now. He is a very present help….
Cultivate a hearing heart.
Attend unto His word. Attention & humility.
Proverbs 4:02 Attend & incline = word
Proverbs 5:1 Attend & bow = wisdom
Proverbs 22:17 Bow & apply = wisdom & knowledge
Give Him our undivided attention and come to know Him.
Time & quietness:
Psalm 46:10 be still – cease striving & know
Psalm 62:1 wait in silence- let you relax & know
Psalm 62:5 My soul wait in silence for God only
Attitude of attention & quietness:
Psalm 95:6-8 worship, bow down, kneel
Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
The Lord will prepare my heart as I humble myself before Him. He will hear me as I do this.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord .
God has goodness now in this life. It is not all reserved for heaven.
Wait hon Him… He already Knows The future & will direct you if you can wait on Him & let Him lead you.
Be of good courage: courage- the quality of mind or spirit that enables a per to face difficulty, danger, pain etc… without fear; bravery.
And He shall strengthen thins. Heart ( which the issues of life come out of)
Matthew Henry: David was encouraged to know God who will strengthen his heart, shall sustain his spirit, & then the spirit sustains the infirmity.
In that strength- keep close to God & to do your part… wait on the Lord by faith, prayer, & a humble resignation to His will.
Be of Good courage; let your heart be fixed, trusting God & your mind stayed upon Him & then let none of these things move you. Those that wait upon The Lord have reason to be of good courage.
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Matthew Henry:
Our desire must be towards Him, our delight in Him, our dependence upon Him & to Him we must be entirely devoted.
Love Him with a sincere love, not in word & tongue only , saying we love him, but our hearts are not with Him.
Love Him with all our soul: mind, will, emotions – our minds wander, our will waivers, our emotions go up & down like a yo-yo.
Don’t let the business of the day steal your time with God. Don’t let the spirit of the world keep you in turmoil and anxiety. Remember what in this life really matters.
Francis Chan said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
So don’t let the disease of a “divided attention”, “a divided mind”, & “a divided heart” move you, captivate you, and keep you in bondage to this world. God wants you to have peace with Him and His peace ruling your heart and lives. Be in the present, cast your cares on Him now, not worrying about the future, & letting the distraction of life pull you down and out. Slow down & rest in Him knowing He will guide you, lead you, protect you, keep you, & will never leave you or forsake you.
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