Could I have your attention, please …

Two psychiatrists meet at their 20th college class reunion. One of the men looks and acts vibrant, while the other looks withered and is worried.

“So what’s your secret?” the older looking psychiatrist asks. “Listening to other people’s problems every day, all day long, for years on end has made an old man of me.”

“So,” replied the younger looking psychiatrist, “who listens?”

Attention is hard to come by sometimes.

Some people have more difficulty than others keeping their attention focused on who they are with or on what’s important at the moment. But attention is something that should be both sporadic and focused.

For example, while working, we shift our attention to what is important at the moment, but change focus as we interact with different customers or co-workers. We need to shift our attention to various people, priorities, projects, and things throughout the day.

But there is something that we’re taught in scripture to keep our attention focused on all the time, anywhere, with anyone, whatever we’re doing …

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need,” Matthew 6:33.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace,” Romans 8:5-7.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise,” Philippians 4:8.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth,” Colossians 3:1-2.

Does God, and His kingdom, permeate your thoughts so that He and his kingdom always have your attention?

What’s got your attention?

Scotty