Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17
We live in a world that is very good at capturing our attention. Our phones buzz. The news demands our response. Advertisements tell us what we need. Other people’s opinions compete for our thoughts. Worries about the future can occupy our minds before the day has even begun.
And yet, attention is more than simply noticing something. What we repeatedly give our attention to begins to shape us.
In Exodus, God calls the people into a covenant and gives them commandments that help them remember what – and who – is at the centre of their lives. The first commandment begins with God: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Maybe that can invite us to ask a different question:
What has my attention?
Not just during worship or prayer, but throughout the ordinary rhythms of the day.
- What do I think about when I first wake up?
- What do I reach for when I have a spare moment?
- What worries occupy my mind?
- What voices influence the way I see the world?
- What do I give my time, energy, and emotional attention to?
This isn’t about deciding that everything other than God is bad. We have responsibilities, relationships, work, hobbies, and countless things that deserve our attention.
It is about noticing whether God has any of ours.
So once each day, I invite you to stop for a few quiet minutes and ask:
“What has been holding my attention today?”
Don’t judge your answer. Just notice. Then take a few slow breaths and intentionally turn your attention toward God.
You might pray:
“God, help me pay attention to what matters. Help me notice your presence in the midst of everything competing for my attention.”
Then spend a few moments simply being present with God. The point isn’t to accomplish anything, or to solve a problem. Just pay attention. Because one of the ways we become more attentive to God is by first becoming more honest about what has our attention.
And over time, we may discover that what we choose to notice, listen to, and dwell upon is quietly shaping the people we are becoming.
Let’s pray:
God of all our days, there are so many voices competing for our attention. Help us notice what is shaping us, and make room in the noise to notice you. Teach us to pay attention to what brings life, to listen for your voice, and to recognize your presence in the ordinary moments of our days. AMEN