As we approach the Second Sunday of Lent. I would like to pose a question for us as last week we wrote about the importance of attentiveness to God and how Lent is the perfect season to do just this. To reorient our attentiveness from other things that don’t deserve our attentiveness to God. Who is the only one worthy of our complete and undivided attention.
The question I would like to pose to us is, how are we doing with our attentiveness? How have we been able to use this most special season of Lent to reorient our attentiveness?
One way to help us in our Lenten journey to be more attentive to what the Lord is doing and speaking is to dive more fully into His Word. The Bible clearly says this in Psalm 119:105,
”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (English Standard Version)
There is no better way to be attentive to the Lord than to dive into His Word and to drink deep of its teaching, because the Bible is the Word of God, and when the Bible speaks God speaks.
May we be people who eat, sleep, and breathe to hear the voice of God from His Word. Something a friend of mine recently shared with me was a method to do just this and to help people in their personal and corporate times of reading God’s Word, and it is as simple as asking and answering five questions about what is being read. I hope to share this with you a tool you can use to help you dig deeper into God’s Word.
1. What are the “facts” in the portion you just read?
2. To the best of your ability what would the original audience have understood this text to say? What did God want them to see? In this what does God want you to see?
3. What stands out to you? What may the Lord be highlighting to you?
4. What response is He asking you to make? What response could God be asking of you?
5. In light of this, write out a Prayer of Commitment:
I have found these five questions to be a great catalyst to more significant moments with God through the reading of His Word, to increase my overall attentiveness, and to truly see God speak through His Word in fresh and powerful ways.
So how are you doing with your attentiveness? How have you been able to use this most special season of Lent to reorient your attentiveness to God?
If you answer these questions negatively. Don’t beat yourself up. Many would do the same. Instead, ask how is it you can begin to be more attentive today and the next. Maybe it starts with just pouring more of your life into the reading of His Word. Whatever it may be how is God moving you to be more attentive to Him this week? In particular how can you truly use the Word of God to be a light unto your path and a lamp unto your feet.