Pay Attention

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

Do you sense yourself drifting away from God? Are the waves of life despair, doubt, and anger pulling you from the Source of your solutions? Hebrews 2:1 offers us succinct instruction as to what we should do to prevent such self-inflicted separation from God.

“Pay more careful attention” – once I received this instruction from His Word, my life changed. Careful, dedicated, focus study of God’s Words and time spent in prayer in His presence are life changing habits to develop. Guarding what words went into my eyes, ears, brain and ultimately my soul transformed my life. We cannot live victorious Christian lives and never spend a moment in His Word or in prayer.

I prefer the Amplified Bible’s version of Hebrews 4:12: “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

When we do not realize the power and purposes of God’s Word, we cannot realize how to live our lives. His Word exposes sin in our lives and convicts our spirits when we make spiritual mistakes. His Word is “alive and full of power” – the bound, typed words of the Holy Bible are not like any other written words – they are “alive and full of power”. Power to change lives, relationships, eternal destinations and hearts – all are possible when we feast on the Word of God.

When we neglect our relationship with God – we will drift away. "Drift" has several definitions – move aimlessly, wander from set course or position, and change gradually. I believe each of these definitions defines specific aspects of our drifting and wandering from the Lord.

When we do not nurture our relationship with God, the Anchor of our soul is lifted and we began to float aimlessly. There is no purpose or direction for our lives. We sense emptiness in our souls. Life challenges become more impossible to handle without the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

God has set a specific purpose and path for each of our lives. Without daily time spent in Bible study and prayer, we begin to wander from our set paths. Wanderers do not have a destination, they meander through life aimlessly. And the enemy of our souls – the thief, Satan – prepares to pounce. John 10:10 states: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

God did not make the gift of salvation or a loving relationship with the God of the Universe to be difficult or impossible. Jesus came so that we may have life – true life – not just a physical existence but a spiritual, personal walk with God. He promises us abundant life – a well-supplied life. And I am not just suggesting material blessings although God tends to the needs of His own. A well-supplied life that is full and complete and a heart without emptiness is worth more than silver or gold. His peace being supplied in a stormy season of life is priceless. Guidance and discernment from the Holy Spirit or from reading His Holy Word is invaluable.

Are you ready to turn the tide of your life? Begin paying attention – not to your problems, selfish wishes and wants, life pleasures, or desires – but pay attention to God’s Word. You cannot turn the tide of your life alone – call upon the Captain of your life ship. Humble yourself before Him. Relinquish the trappings of this world. Realize how damaging sin is to your life. Repent. God is still in the business of forgiving the worst of sinners and softening the hardest of hearts.