Squander less....embrace more

What difference does a day make? To some, a day is an eternity because they are never really confident they will see another. To others, a day seems like an eternity because they are waiting with a degree of impatience for something big to happen they have been dreaming about for quite some time. To God, a day is something like a fraction of a second to us - hard for us to imagine, beyond our comprehending. Every moment matters. Today's seconds may slip away from us unnoticed if we are not careful, but with God, not one of those miliseconds are ever missed.

“So, my dear friends, listen carefully; those who embrace these my ways are most blessed. Mark a life of discipline and live wisely; don’t squander your precious life. Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God’s good pleasure. But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.” Proverbs 8:32-36

Mark a life of discipline and live wisely. This says it all - make right choices, stay focused on the right stuff, and be attentive to the right things. There is much to be said about focus, but attention is what I'd like us to consider for just a moment or two. You see, attention is waning at best. We might say we have dedicated our attention to some pursuit or passion, but even the most dedicated and committed of individuals will waver in their commitment to the object of their attention.

Why do we want to be aware of where our attention is 'weak' or 'wandering'? It is because we will end up squandering the moments. Moments that will all add up in the end as more than we ever imagined. Don't believe me? Your moments right now are directed toward reading this blog, but in just a few more moments, where will your attention be directed? I just caused you to focus your attention on something else just a little bit further down the road, didn't I? See how easily our attention is distracted, or redirected? No wonder God reminds us not to squander our moments with him. 

When we want to make the most of our days, we start them well. In other words, we start them with our attention directed toward God, what he wants to do in and through us today, and what he wants us to understand or see. The truth of the matter -  it is much easier to end well when we begin well! Our focus is not going to remain consistent throughout the day, but we can begin it well and allow those moments of redirection to occur as God would call upon us to refocus throughout the day. In the end, we will squander less and be rewarded with even more than we counted on receiving! Just sayin!