What I Pay Attention To
I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. Psalm 85:8 NLT
In our daily lives, we are constantly exposed to a multitude of voices and news competing for our attention. Sometimes we wake up mentally exhausted or worried about the situations we face, allowing doubt and stress to take over our minds because of all the outside noise. However, the psalmist reminds us of the vital importance of carefully choosing whom we give our attention to, because our inner peace and the direction of our steps on this journey of success called life depend on it.
- Focusing my attention on God I must pay much more attention to what God says than to what people say. Instead of giving in to thoughts of doubt or worry over life’s demands, I need to focus intentionally on seeking His presence and listening to His guidance.
- God speaks words of peace What God says will always bring me peace. Focusing too much on news reports and the world’s tragedies stresses me out because they emphasize bad news and injustice. However, God speaks words of peace to His faithful people, and that is the voice I must seek to hear.
- Replacing negative thoughts I need to fill my mind with more good news. I must continually replace negative or self-destructive thoughts with thoughts that are positive and filled with faith, focusing on everything that is true, honorable, pure, and worthy of praise.
- Listening more to God than to my own voice Sometimes I am the one speaking doubt, fear, and questions to myself. I need to dwell less on what I say when I am confused or overwhelmed and listen more to what God says about my present and my glorious future.
- Not returning to foolish ways When I listen to God and receive His peace, I must be very careful not to slip back into old habits or toxic attitudes. Paying attention to His voice gives me the wisdom I need to keep from stumbling and remain at the center of His original plan for my life.
We live in a world saturated with distractions that try to draw our focus away from God’s purpose. But when we choose to silence the noise and pay close attention to our heavenly Father’s voice, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding and find assurance that He is in control. Let us choose today to tune our spiritual ears, fill ourselves with His promises, and rest in the words of life He continually offers us.
I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. Psalm 85:8 NLT
Think About It:
- What voices, news, or thoughts are you paying the most attention to in your daily life?
- Identify a recurring worry in your mind and replace it today with a promise of peace from God’s Word.
- What action will you take this week to create a moment of stillness and listen carefully to what the Lord wants to tell you?