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Today, we are going to talk about Paying Attention – Seeing What Really Matters.
Let’s be honest—how many times have you walked into a room and completely forgotten why you were there? Or driven somewhere and realized you barely remember the trip? Yeah… same. We live in a world full of distractions, and sometimes, we miss the things that really matter because our minds are somewhere else.
Proverbs 4:25– “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”
Paying attention isn’t just about focus—it’s about truly seeing what’s in front of us, whether that’s God’s direction, the people in our lives, or the little moments that make life beautiful.
The other day, I was looking all over for my phone… while I was talking on it. Yep. We miss things all the time, not because they aren’t there, but because we aren’t paying attention!
So, let’s slow down, tune in, and talk about what happens when we really start paying attention.
Seeing God in the Small Moments
God is always at work, but we don’t always notice. I think that’s because we expect big signs, but God often speaks in the small moments.
Have you ever prayed for a sign and then completely ignored the answer because it wasn’t what you expected? I’m sure we’re all thinking, yep. It’s like sending a text to someone, and when they don’t answer right away, you’ve already moved on or made a decision without their input. We don’t always wait patiently, or we miss the response altogether.
Start your day by asking, “God, what do You want me to see today?” And be expectant for Him to answer—no matter how long it takes. Remember, His timing is perfect.
What’s one way God might be working in your life that you haven’t noticed?
Are We Listening?
God speaks in many ways—through His Word, through people, and through that nudge in our spirit.
Are we listening, or are we too distracted?
Here are a few things that have hindered my ability to hear God:
Selective hearing
Partial obedience
Pursuing sin
Simply learning to develop my faith
Everyone hears God differently, so keep in mind what that looks like for you. Stay close to Him, be open and genuine, remove distractions, and step out in faith. When all seems lost and you’re tempted to doubt His love, take a second and remember the cross—let it stir up your faith. God came down to earth to save you. Nothing is stronger than His love, not even this silence.
When was the last time you felt God speaking to you? Take a few quiet minutes each day to simply listen.
Cutting Through the Noise
Life is noisy. If we don’t intentionally focus on God, we’ll miss Him.
Remember Proverbs 4:25 – “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”
Limit distractions—turn off notifications, take a break from social media, and make time for God.
Paying Attention to Others
We all want to be seen and heard, but are we giving that same attention to others? Paying attention to people is one of the greatest ways we can show love.
Have you ever been in a conversation where you could tell the other person wasn’t really listening? I’ve been there. There have been times while I was talking when I could tell the person didn’t really care about what I was saying.
Listening is more than hearing—it’s being present, being engaged, and showing others that they are heard.
Have you ever nodded and said “yeah” in a conversation you weren’t paying attention to… and apparently agreed to something you didn’t actually mean to?
Next time you’re talking to someone, put your phone down, make eye contact, and really listen.
Noticing the Needs Around Us
Jesus was always aware of the people around Him—He noticed the ones others ignored.
Sometimes, people don’t say they need help, but if we pay attention, we’ll see it.
God puts people in our path for a reason. Let’s not be too busy to notice them.
Our key scripture for today is Proverbs 4:25 – “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”
Has someone ever asked how you’re doing, and you give the basic, “Oh, I’m fine” or “Everything is going good”? We all have. But what happens when someone asks and then says, “I really want to know how you’re feeling”—and they mean it?
Our whole outlook on feeling seen and heard changes, and we can feel more comfortable and less guarded.
As you go about your day, pay attention to whom you might need to give a little extra attention to.
Cherishing the Small Moments
Sometimes, the best moments happen in the small, everyday interactions.
Every Tuesday afternoon, my daughter and I get an hour at home by ourselves, and I do my best to take advantage of that time—just talking with her about whatever she wants. I think it’s important to make the most of times like this because, before I know it, my kids will be grown and out doing life.
Even in small connections, a simple smile, a kind word, or taking an extra minute to check in can make a huge difference.
I don’t usually talk to people when I’m out running errands. If you’re like me, you might be one of those “get in and get out” people. But sometimes, I do have conversations with others, and they turn out to be refreshing. These are moments we should pay attention to—because God might be doing something in them.
Slow down enough to enjoy the small moments.
Paying Attention to Ourselves
Now, I’ll be talking to myself here because, like many of you, we spend so much time focusing on everything around us that we forget to check in with ourselves.
Paying attention to our own thoughts, emotions, and well-being is just as important.
We often brush off stress, exhaustion, or frustration instead of addressing it. But we need to remember—God cares about our well-being, too.
Are you paying attention to your own needs?
Let’s make it a habit to pause and ask ourselves, “How am I really doing?”
Living in the Now
We often get so caught up in the past or the future that we forget to live in the now. We can also get so caught up in doing that we forget being.
Proverbs 4:25 reminds us: “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”
We need these Biblical reminders to focus on what’s in front of us today. God has you right here, right now, for a reason. Don’t miss it.
Take some time today to simply be present—whether in prayer, with family, or just enjoying the moment.
What’s one thing in your life right now that you don’t want to miss?
Stay Present
Living with awareness is key. Life is full of things to see, hear, and experience, but we have to be intentional about noticing them.
Paying attention to God, people, and ourselves helps us live fully.
Look straight ahead. Fix your eyes on what’s in front of you. God is doing something, and you don’t want to miss it!
Ask: “God, help me see what You want me to see today.”
What’s one area of life where you want to be more present? When it’s shown to you, be intentional about stepping into it.
Paying attention isn’t just about noticing things—it’s about truly seeing what matters. God is speaking. People around us need love. And our own hearts need care, too.
So, let’s look straight ahead. Let’s fix our eyes on what’s in front of us. And most of all, let’s not miss the incredible things God is doing in our lives!
Stay present. Stay encouraged.