Reflections on Attentiveness: Becoming Present Enough to Notice

Last week we reflected on “Attentiveness: When the Soul Learns to Notice.” We considered that attentiveness is not learning to make God speak, move, or become present. It is learning to notice that He already has. God is often far more active in our lives than we are aware, and the deeper question is not always whether God is present, but whether we have become present enough to recognize His presence.

We also suggested that attentiveness grows naturally out of abiding. The soul that has learned to

remain begins to notice. Scripture lingers. A song returns. A conversation speaks more deeply

than expected. A memory rises. Creation itself catches our attention. What once would have been

hurried past now causes us to pause.

This week, BP, NS, and TD help us see three beautiful dimensions of attentiveness.

BP Says:

“I have not always understood the exact meaning of the Scripture that talks about, ‘Let those that

have ears let them hear, let those that have eyes let them see.’

Over the years I had to learn to focus through the many distractions of life. I would go to church

each Sunday morning and be there but not be present, listen to a sermon or a song but not hear

the message. I remember an exercise where a group of us was asked to tune out all distractions

and focus on God and His Word for just five minutes. This exercise was so much harder than it

sounds. Just as God asked the disciples, ‘Can you not pray for just one hour?’ This exercise was

one of the many ways I used to help me keep my mind stayed on Him.

It was not until I heard with my own ears and saw with my own eyes, and had my own personal

experience in Christ, that I began to recognize His presence.

This recognition caused me to notice things, as Pastor Polk stated in this week’s post, ‘things that

I have become present enough to notice.’ Things that I would have walked right past and hurried

through have now gotten my attention. There has been an awakening, and now I want to be in

prayer, I want to meditate and study God’s Word. I’m confident that He will never leave me nor

forsake me.

I was sitting outside one day and saw the sun and the moon high in the sky at the same time. I’m

fairly certain this has happened before, but on this day I was led to take notice. God allowed me

to experience and bear witness to one of the many wonder-working powers of God. I was

reminded in that moment to be still and present before the Lord, and He will make His deep

truths known to those who seek Him with an open heart, open eyes, and open ears.

I now see differently and hear differently and understand how we can have sight and not see, ears

but not hear. There was an experience I had with Jesus, and He restored my soul and gave me

spiritual awareness.

These things didn’t just happen suddenly but gradually and quietly. It took time and, in some

cases, hard lessons learned, but the process was worth it and it was all for the glory of God. I was

once blind, but now I see. I thank and praise God for removing the scales from my eyes.”

— BP

BP brings us face to face with spiritual perception. She reminds us that having eyes does not

necessarily mean we see, and having ears does not necessarily mean we hear. Attentiveness

develops our ability to perceive what may have been present all along.

One sentence stands out: “I’m fairly certain this has happened before, but on this day I was

led to take notice.”

That is attentiveness.

The sun and moon had not suddenly begun sharing the sky. Something had changed in the one

observing them.

The soul had become awake enough to notice.

NS Says:

“The first thing that came to mind when reading your Weekly Word on ‘Attentiveness’ is the

song, Way Maker, by Sinach. In the song, she talks about God being our Way Maker and how He

is moving in our midst even when we can’t see Him. To me, this song serves as a great reminder

that, no matter the circumstances, God is with us. Our responsibility is to trust that He is present

and to stay attentive enough to recognize He is near.

I have learned to acknowledge the fact that it’s not just the tangible things that make God so

wonderful and alive in my life. It’s more when I can slow down and see Him at work within the

earth. Not just in my own life, but also in the lives of those around me. He has not stopped

working when I am too busy to see. He has not left me when I haven’t taken time to be with Him

in my secret place. He has not stopped speaking to me, even when I pout and cry that He has. He

is a God who is always moving forward. It’s what you say at times, Rev., ‘Some of the things He

shows have to be caught, not just taught.’

It is simply being aware that He is right there in every aspect of our existence. Being aware of

His visitations and His creation. Because His creation speaks loudly, it is taking the time to

reflect on some of the things He has already brought me through. It is being steadfast and

immovable when I can’t hear or see Him as clearly as before, for whatever reason.

Lately, I have made it a practice of asking the Lord to show me what He wants me to see. When

He shows me things, it can be mind-blowing. It is just like the songwriter says: He is our miracle

worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. He is touching our hearts and wiping every tear

away from our eyes. While in the process, He is gently healing us in our mind, body, and down

to our soul.

He is as present today as He was in the last thing He blessed me in and the time before that. He is

the God that changes not. He is the same today and forevermore. If we can become more

present with God as He is with us, we will see the things He is saying, and revelation will be

evident in our lives.”

— NS

NS brings forward the dimension of Presence.

She reminds us that God does not suddenly become present because we slowed down enough to

notice Him. He was already there. Our attentiveness does not create His presence; it awakens us

to it.

Her statement, “If we can become more present with God as He is with us,” may be one of

the clearest descriptions of attentiveness we have received.

God is present.

The soul learns to become present.

TD Says:

“Attentiveness reminds me of the importance of spending time with God through quiet time,

meditation, or devotional time. It is during my quiet time that I am more aware of God speaking

to me. It has taken time for me to recognize this.

I noticed how God would give me guidance and clarity regarding situations in life during my

quiet time. It would be quietly and quick. Some words and phrases that stand out to me are,

‘Forgive,’ ‘Trust Me,’ ‘Let go,’ and ‘I am with you.’

Often the words in John 16:33 will come to mind: ‘I have told you these things so that in me you

may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.’

This Scripture is a reminder to me that regardless of what takes place in this world or with me,

God will have the final say and He will be victorious.

It is during my quiet time with God that He causes me to be aware of His presence. In addition to

bringing a Scripture to my remembrance, God sometimes will bring a song to mind that relates to

my current situation. The interesting thing is that the Scripture or the song God gives me will

linger with me for a while.

There have been times when God sent a message I needed through another person. I have come

to recognize this as God providing me with what I need at that moment. Regardless of how the

message comes to me from God, if I am not in tune with how He makes Himself known to me, I

will miss it.

There have been times when I didn’t recognize God’s presence. Because of His love for me and

patience, He continues to provide me with opportunities to experience His presence.

I’m thankful for the times when God takes me back to a previous journal entry to show me He

has been with me the entire time. This is a reminder that God’s Spirit is present and providing for

me. He reminds me of events in the past to show me that He is with me.

I can only have the above experiences when I take time out of the day to sit with God and allow

Him to move on my behalf and reveal what He knows I need at that time. My quiet time with

God provides the opportunity for Him to work with me, in me, and through me so that I will

recognize His presence.”

— TD

TD gives us the dimension of Recognition.

She has begun to recognize the particular ways through which God has often made His presence

known to her. Sometimes it is Scripture. Sometimes a song. Sometimes another person.

Sometimes a journal entry from months or years before. Sometimes it is simply a phrase that

lingers: Forgive. Trust Me. Let go. I am with you.

And TD says something important: “It has taken time for me to recognize this.”

Recognition develops through familiarity.

The longer the soul remains, listens, reflects, and remembers, the more familiar it becomes with

the ways God has met it along the journey.

Closing Reflection

As I sat with these three responses, a simple progression began to emerge.

NS speaks of Presence.

God is already here.

TD speaks of Recognition.

The soul gradually learns the ways His presence has been made known.

BP speaks of Perception.

The eyes and ears of the soul begin to function differently. We notice what previously escaped

us.

Perhaps attentiveness develops in just this way:

Presence → Recognition → Perception.

God is present.

We begin to recognize.

And eventually, we begin to see and hear differently.

That is why attentiveness cannot be rushed. It develops slowly. Quietly. Gradually.

The person who once sat through a sermon but did not hear begins to hear.

The person who once walked past something without noticing begins to stop.

The person who once believed God was absent begins to recognize that He had been there all

along.

Perhaps this week's invitation is simply this:

Pay attention to what you are beginning to notice.

What do you see now that you once overlooked?

What do you hear now that once passed unnoticed?

What keeps returning?

What lingers?

What causes you to pause?

Do not be so quick to move past these things.

Some things, as NS reminded us, have to be caught, not just taught.

And perhaps that is what is happening among us now.

The soul that has learned to abide is becoming attentive.

The attentive soul is learning to recognize.

And the soul that recognizes is slowly learning to see.

Pastor Polk