The Resource of Your Attention

“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things]…” (Col. 3:2, AMP).

Today, let’s ponder together on the topic of our most valuable life resources. I imagine that you have oftentimes heard “money, time, and energy” listed in this category. Here’s a thought. What about adding to this list the precious resource of our attention?

Yes, our attention. Just how costly is this commodity? Well, consider the last time you went to a restaurant or had a meal with someone. Did they refrain from getting on their phone during your time together? Let’s think about both possible answers to that question. If they did not refrain, and were frequently distracted by incoming beeps and messages, how did you feel? On the other hand, if they put their phone on silent and put it upside down or away so they could completely focus on visiting with you, what did that feel like?

Those two possible emotions are completely opposite from each other, aren’t they? This clues us into something very important. The intensity of pleasure or frustration generated in this kind of situation speak volumes… about just how priceless someone’s full attention is. When a person we love is wholly present with us, focused fully on our fellowship, it truly is one of life’s richest treasures.

Now, to apply this principle. What about the attention that we personally give out throughout the course of the day? What if we add up all the minutes of our attention in a twenty-four hour period? A week? Whether we calculate this sum in terms of a whole day, or a whole month, or a lifetime, we are going to come up with a finite amount. An amount that we are going to find ourselves coming to the end of as we arrive at the finish line of our life spans.

You and I only have so many minutes in our lives in which to spend our attention. What do you want to spend yours on? How are you feeling about your attention ratios right now, between work, play, relationships, and rest? Are you at peace with the percentage of your attention currently dedicated to screen time?

And… biggest question of them all… does God have your full attention? Every day? How much of it? Is it enough to truly reflect that He owns everything you are?

At the end of your life, Daddy longs for you to be able rejoice in your investment of this precious commodity He has entrusted to you, your attention. Let’s you and I make sure today that we are stewarding this resource in a way that will cause us to rejoice eternally!

“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” (Psalm 90:12, CSB).

*************************

Do you have a personal rule (or rules) for yourself about phone usage? I’d love to hear about what works best for you with setting healthy boundaries in this area, if you have some insights to share.