Holy Attention
THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF NOTICING
Holy Attention, the spiritual discipline of noticing (of being intentionally aware of) God and His creation, draws us into fresh gratitude, recognizing His Hand in every atom of creation.
Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. (Genesis 28:16)
HOLY ATTENTION • EVERY MOMENT IS A GIFT
Every moment is a gift. As we learn to focus our attention on God and His creation, we begin to savor and drink deeply of His precious gift of time.
Holy Attention is the spiritual discipline of noticing (of being intentionally aware of) God and His creation.
Our God is a God of details who is present everywhere—in every cell, every breath, and every atom of creation. He counts the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30) and knows every word on our tongues (Psalm 139:4). He collects our every tear (Psalm 56:8). God notices every detail about us.
We, however, are easily distracted people, often unaware of Immanuel, God with us.
In Genesis 28, Jacob set out on a 550-mile journey to find a wife from among his own people. One night, as he slept, Jacob dreamed about a ladder connecting heaven and earth. In his dream, God promised Jacob descendants outnumbering the dust of the earth, declaring, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go …”
When Jacob woke, he cried, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
… and I was not aware.
ARE WE AWARE OF GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES?
How often do we move through an hour, a day, or even a week, heedless of God’s presence? We know in our heads He has promised:
- never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
- to be with us always (Matthew 28:20).
- to be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9).
- that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
Yet, how often do we cry out, “Oh, God, where are You?”
HOLY ATTENTION • THE PRESENCE OF GOD
How easily we miss the presence of God in our days—and how often we are inattentive and wholly unaware!
We might think it’s because we are flesh and blood, and God is not. Yet even the disciples who walked, talked, traveled, and ate with the one who was fully man and fully God found it difficult to pay attention.
Jesus beseeched Peter, James, and John to keep watch with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane because His soul was consumed with sorrow to the point of death (Matthew 26:38). Yet, they fell asleep three times, failing to keep watch, failing to pay attention.
They knew Jesus. He was right there with them. They could feel His anguish, and still, they failed to keep watch. We are easily distracted people, and learning to pay attention is a life-long pursuit—but one we can improve with practice. How do we do that?
We slow down and observe (intentionally noticing), and little by little, we learn to pay closer attention.
Holy Attention: The Practice of Solitude
In silence, we learn to listen, and in stillness, we learn to rest and be at peace; in solitude, we learn to abide in God’s presence, and are gently transformed as we learn to notice God’s presence, rest in His peace, and carry His compassion into the world.
Prayers to Experience Greater Awe and Wonder
Illness and pain can dull our vision and dampen our sense of wonder, yet God’s extraordinary imprint is on display all around us. What if wonder is His invitation to be surprised again and again? What if wonder is the beginning of true worship?
Holy Attention
Eye-Spy • People Watching
Holy Attention draws us into fresh gratitude. When we pay close attention to creation, we can experience the awe and wonder of God’s infinite creativity.
Wonder Leads to Worship
When was the last time you were wonderstruck? How long has it been since something took your breath away? Wonder invites us to be surprised by God, to stand in awe of His holy mystery, and to recognize His extraordinary in our ordinary. Wonder leads our hearts into worship.
Holy Attention
Sight & Scroll • Spot 1 • Feast
Choose something specific (a color, shape, sound, object, or even an idea) and look or listen for it throughout your day. When you find it, take a picture of it or make note of it.
