Why It’s Always Important to Pay Attention to the Word
Pay attention!
I can remember saying those words to my students and my children. Distractions and daydreams were frequent attention thieves that often required a reminder to focus on the things that had lasting value and needed to be remembered.
Solomon wrote…
My child, pay attention to what I say.
Proverbs 4:20–22
Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
Solomon emphasized that … this is important! Listen carefully! Pay attention! Don’t forget!
I like the various translations of verse 21b—”let [these words] penetrate deep into your heart.”
- Keep them in the center of your heart. (AMP)
- Keep them within your heart. (CSB)
- Concentrate! Learn it by heart. (MSG)
- Keep them always in mind. (NCV)
But how? How do we let God’s Word penetrate deep into our hearts?
We read and study it.
We prayerfully think about it.
We memorize it.
We talk about it and share it with others.
According to the Dictionary…
When we take something to heart, we treat it as though it is “significant and important.” We allow ourselves to be moved and affected by it.
That means we let God’s Word lead and transform us.
Why? Why is it important? Why do we need to pay attention?
Because, as Solomon said, God’s Word brings life and healing! (Proverbs 4:22)
Jesus told us…
God’s Word is TRUTH.
“Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth.” (John 17:17)
God’s Word is Eternal.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
God’s Word Guides.
Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)
God’s Word Blesses Those Who KNOW It and Keep It.
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28)
Look at some of the things Christian Leaders have spoken about in the Bible…
“I’ve experienced His presence in the deepest darkest hell that men can create. I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them. I know that Jesus Christ can live in you, in me, through His Holy Spirit. You can talk with Him; you can talk with Him out loud or in your heart when you are alone, as I was alone in solitary confinement. The joy is that He hears each word.” – Corrie Ten Boom
“To meditate on Scripture is to allow the truth of God’s Word to move from head to heart. It is to so dwell upon a truth that it becomes part of our being.” — Greg Oden
“The Bible is the book of my life. It’s the book I live with, the book I live by, the book I want to die by.” -N. T. Wright
“The Bible is God’s love letter to us, a Father’s letter of instruction to show us how to live the kind of life He wants to give us.” ~ Anonymous
So, let’s pay attention, and let’s pray…
A Prayer to Pay Attention to God’s Word
Heavenly Father, thank You so very much for wanting us to KNOW You … for giving us Your living and active Word. Thank you for inspiring many writers over many generations to document Your message of TRUTH and LOVE!
Thank you for Your Spirit’s guiding of scholars who translated ancient transcripts into understandable words. Thank you for that same Spirit who works in our hearts and minds to teach us the truth about Your grace, mercy, love, and all that You want for us.
Oh, Father, please help me pay attention to Your Words. Give me a humble heart that SEEKs after You and Your Kingdom. Teach me Your TRUTH that I might KNOW, TRUST, LOVE, and OBEY You.
I give myself to You. I entrust myself to Your care. Please work in me so that I might grow in faith and live for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
I spent years sporadically reading my Bible for academic purposes or as a disciplinary guide for life. But then a crisis knocked me to my knees and I humbly grabbed my Bible because I wanted and needed a relationship with the Living God.
It was a moment that changed my life. I fell more and more in love with God as I got to KNOW Him through the pages of Scripture. The Spirit made me a SEEKer and proved to me the trustworthiness of our Creator and Savior.
I discovered the blessing of paying attention to God’s Word.
The blessing of KNOWing the TRUTH about Jesus that sets us free…
- All Scripture is inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16)
- God’s Word is truth. (Psalm 119:60)
- God’s Word gives wisdom. (Proverbs 2:6)
- God’s Word is alive and powerful. (Hebrews 4:12)
- God’s Word endures forever. (1 Peter 1:25)
So, let’s pay attention! Let’s commit to humbly reading and studying the Bible asking God to teach us His everlasting alive and powerful truth that gives wisdom for life.
Pick a verse each week to prayerfully ponder and take to heart … a verse that will help you focus on God and all that He wants for you.
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I have to admit that I have never just read through the Bible from cover to cover, but I do take chapters and will read them. I love the book of Esther in the Old Testament. Mercy! I think I love so many chapters, Old and New Testament, that I get so much from them all. I especially love learning about God’s character. It is good too, to have devotional guides. I read one of those daily guides each morning. This post has so many good suggestions. And, Deb, I know what you mean about being brought to your knees and Seeking God. I have been to my knees several big times in my life, but this latest one has been amoung the worse. I am learning more and more about truly trusting God and also more and more about His divine love and acceptance. I love Romans 8:38 and 39! It speaks volumes to me. Especially when I am feeling so rejected.
Thank you for this beautiful post and for that wonderful prayer. You always have the best, heartfelt prayers. It is so easy to identify with them.
God bless you my dear friend and your sweet husband and Sadie. Hugs!
Thanks, Sue. There is something so very powerful about the Word when we realize that it is God’s love letter to us and let it move in our hearts and minds. It’s so easy to read it theologically with an academic attitude but I think the true power of it comes when we just let the Spirit work through it and touch our very souls. God is so good! Continuing to pray for your tender heart. Love you, sweet friend!
Deb, I loved your advice here to choose a verse each week, ponder and reflect upon it, and take it to heart that we might live it out in our daily lives.
We are, thankfully, home, Danny is doing well, and I have God to thank for everyone of His blessings that allowed for us to having more time here on earth together. Only by His grace and mercy!
Blessings!
I am so glad you are back at home safe and that Danny is doing well. Time together is one of our Lord’s most precious gifts to us. Praising Him along with you! Blessings and hugs!
Thank you Deb for the wonderful words and prayers to help me become closer to God by praying and listening deep in my heart to his scriptures and apply it in my life. I will follow your advice to read a reading from the Bible daily to give me internal grace, love, peace and mercy to grow with God and his love and glory.
Have a wonderful blessed day!
Thank, Ana! I’m glad that you were blessed and encouraged. You have a wonderful blessed day as well. Hugs!