“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1 NIV

Stop, Look, and Listen

Stop!

What are you doing? Is it worth the time and effort that you’re spending on it?

You alone know the answer to that question. That is between you and God.

As a child, my parents taught me to stop, look, and listen before stepping off a curb. As an adult, I observed the couple next door teaching their little girl the same lesson. The child however ran after a ball in the street and was hit by a car. While her parents and the driver ran to her, I ran inside to call for an ambulance. The child ended up without lasting damage, but we all learned some kind of personal lesson that day. Sometimes we have not stopped, looked, or listened to what the Lord has clearly taught us, and have had to learn the hard way, as did my little neighbor.

As an adult, I choose (by an act of my will) to stop and gaze deeply into my Father’s eyes to see His great love for me. I choose to look  deeply into His word to learn of Him and His ways that He has set before me. I choose to listen to what it is that He wants me to hear in the quiet of His still small voice. Just like my little neighbor, even though I know the lesson, I get distracted and “follow the ball into the street” which robs me of my cherished time with my Lord. I have noticed in my own life that I need to stop, look, and listen and build some margins and boundaries.

Do you ever follow the distraction and find yourself far away from your goal?

Would you join me on my journey? Let’s evaluate where we are spending our time. If it does not include time with the Lord, we need to reevaluate. Let’s make certain that we stop all distractions, turn off all devices, noises, and take a deep breath and sit for a moment to quietly bask in His presence, worship, and look into His Word.  Now read sloooowly as my pastor reminds me, and ask what He wants me to see in His Word. Next, do what He tells me to do, and stop doing what He tells me to stop doing. Yes, it is that simple, yet it is not easy.Now we must listen to His still small voice that beckons us to come, stop, look, and listen, and spend time with Him. Time well spent!

Lord, please help us pull away from distractions to prioritize our time with You to stop, look and listen. Help us to see what You want us to see, and hear what You want us to hear, and then apply whatever lessons You have spoken to each of us. Thank You, Lord.