Attention getting – Devotion for
From our earliest days of life we learn how to get the attention of someone else. Don’t believe? Check out a baby. Dirty diaper that isn’t getting changed? “Waaaaaaa!” Hungry? “Waaaaaaaa!” As we get older, our tactics may change (hopefully!). Teenagers will begin to push the limits in how they dress to get the attention of other. Adults will acts in “interesting” ways to get the attention of others. We are surrounded by people trying to be noticed by someone, and we ourselves (if we are honest) seek to be noticed as well.
In Matthew 6:1, Jesus talks about us not getting noticed. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” He then goes on to talk about how we should give to the poor, pray, and fast – all in private so that no one else notices. We should listen to His words, because we should be giving to the poor, we should be praying, and at times we should be fasting, but we shouldn’t be doing those things to get the attention of someone else. We shouldn’t be doing those things to put a focus on ourselves when the focus should be on God. Today I want to encourage you to find a way to randomly, quietly, and secretly give to someone in need, without doing it to draw attention to yourself – your gift may be their prayer answered. Today I want to encourage you to find a way to quietly and secretly pray to God, in particular praying for the ability to forgive others (as Jesus emphasizes in Matthew 6:14-15) – your prayers make be the petition that brings about a miracle. And today I want to encourage to find a time when you need to fast – when you really need to hunger for the Lord – and do it quietly without telling another – your fasting may give you the guidance to bring about the full
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