Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I say?

Have you ever had a conversation with another person that was present, but not present? You know, someone standing right in front of you, but not listening at all to what you were saying? Of course, to some degree, that happens all of the time. . . and it can be really frustrating and even offensive. You may have something important or serious to communicate, but the other person seems just incapable of listening. Almost like a poor connection even though the other person might be right in front of you – it’s no use.

Now, have you ever been that person. . . the one not listening? Maybe your deep in thought, still processing something else or kind of stuck in a routine. Your spouse engages in conversation but you are down the road of some other thought and your trying to do both, or multiple things at once. It seems to be that most of the time, we are not giving our full attention to anyone or anything. Weather we are talking to someone, reading a book, listening, performing some task, etc. Our minds are nearly always busy with other thoughts that at some level, keeps us from being fully engaged. – No wonder many of us have trouble remembering things; we barely heard what we were supposed to remember in the first place :)

This is a real struggle for most folks, including myself. I have found that even in my “quiet time” and in prayer, I am often fighting to focus. I almost always have to engage in some sort of preparation to attempt to empty my head of all the competing thoughts before I can begin to sincerely listen.

Don’t you think the enemy is at work with what we may pass off as “multi-tasking”? For me, I have often missed profound moments or opportunity to truly engage with others because of my divided attention. I have very rarely experienced a conversation with someone that was genuinely – fully engaged with me. But in those times, it was crystal clear that something was radically different and I was drawn to that person. Someone willing to set all other things aside to give me their focus! That brings something like an atmosphere of honor and a presence that is loving and powerful.

It is this kind of focus that I want to have for God, and for each of you. I believe it is the true beginning of “good soil”, or the ability to really take in truth and love and understanding that causes us to change. I am a huge believer that everything we need to live a life of Godliness and of love for neighbor, we already have – just without the capacity to fully hear or absorb. . . . I hope that makes sense. Most of the GREAT revelations I have received in my life, I had actually at least superficially heard before, but they were without meaning until I was in a place in my spirit to truly listen.

My friends – What do you and I need to do, to be able to be present in the present? We need to put steps in place to build habits of emptying our thoughts for each conversation, each prayer, and each person that the Lord puts in front of us! And lets pray and ask God to help us be present in the present. I have begun to realize that this is STEP ONE in our ability to do anything well. Imagine how much honor and love we will convey to the people around us! – Lets agree to work and pray regarding our focus – to be good soil; true hearers, fully engaged with the one in front of us.

Can You Hear Me?