sometimes my mind wanders...
even if i'm doing something really fulfilling, sometimes my mind will wander off a bit on a trail that is usually trivial and meaningless.
this only bothers me if it happens when i am supposed to be actively listening to someone else,
and during my devotions and prayer time with God.
if it happens during a time of crisis or great pain, that is only to be expected...
our emotions are constantly trying to survive the moment or moments,
so our thoughts and our emotions wander off to smaller rabbit trails.
but sometimes when i read my devotions and talk to our Abba, my mind will think of 20 other things i could be doing elsewhere.
stupid little things that aren't even slightly comparable to my time with the Lord.
and if i put those other things above my time with Him, i cause Him pain.
it is an insult to God...it hurts Him.
He was never meant to 'play second fiddle' in our hearts.
have you ever been talking with someone, really talking about something important in your life
and you can just tell the person across from you isn't listening?
they're nodding in all the right places but there is a bit of vacancy behind the eyes?
doesn't it hurt?
even just a little?
here's why...
if we are trying to communicate something near and dear to our hearts and our friend/partner/spouse/children aren't really 'tuning in', their behavior gives off a silent yet striking message:
i am more interested in what's going on in my life than what's happening in yours...
now to be fair, that is probably NOT the intention of the vacant listener across from you.
they are probably NOT trying to hurt or ignore you...
but regardless of intentions, it hurts anyway.
because we all want to be seen, to be heard...
when our God pays attention to us, He notices every itsy bitsy tiny detail and nuance.
He gives us His complete and undivided attention.
even the smallest prayer or concern matters a great deal to God.
He adores adoring you...
and that undivided and Holy attention from God sends us this unfailing message:
i love you enough to truly listen and care about whatever you're going through.
you matter to Me.
I value your thoughts and struggles.
I value you...
dearest Abba,
please help me to discipline my thought-life to the point of really actively listening and responding to those around me.
help me to set aside my own wandering thoughts long enough to truly listen to You and others that You've placed in my life.
help me to give my full attention to You the way You do for me.
i never want to put You in 2ND or 3RD place in my heart and thought-life.
You are truly worthy to be my chief priority and i never want to hurt You, my Father...
with all i am and all i want to be,
Your laineyrose
