Watch and Pray

They may not be able to pray, but our brick-like dog, Goldie, and our dear Mr Darcy are both pretty good at watching!

A couple of posts back, I wrote about how disorganized my mind has felt in recent weeks. Pressures from life, too much of the news and not enough sleep have contrived to distract me from what is truly important.

An unsettling effect of this combination of circumstances is that part of me seems to be running on auto-pilot in trying to handle it all. I have had a few instances when I have interacted with someone, but my conscious mind has no awareness of it. It’s like I am talking in my sleep or something.

Distraction is dangerous.

Our sons, or even Jim, have been very kind, but firm, when they remind me that I said such-and-such.

“When did I say that?” I will question.

And the answer comes with a detailed description of the conversation, what came before, and the exact time and place. They are convinced that I heard and responded in a certain way, but I have no memory of it.

I admit I can be very focused. That skill helps me be productive. For example, I might need to design a box for the new kittens, including the dimensions for a door that will 1) let mama cat out easily while 2) keeping kittens in, and 3) not letting too much heat out, all at the same time.

While designing such a door, I may be scribbling other ideas on a napkin during lunch, while listening to a podcast. And when someone comes up to me at the same time and asks if they can borrow the car, start a new herb garden in the center of the backyard, or use my debit card to buy something; I may say “yes”, but still not be fully aware of the thing to which I am agreeing.

Later, I might say something like “When did we decided to do THIS?” And when the answer comes back, I realize that I have done it again.

Multi-tasking is a dangerous business. Each of us has only so much “bandwidth.” Things are happening all around us, and it is important for us to be aware.

The Research

The Monkey Business Illusion, a famous video demonstration of selective attention, was put out by Dan Simmons and Christopher Chablis, who did the original research on this in 1999. (You can look it up on YouTube.) Their research showed that when we are focused on one thing, we will totally miss other things, even something as absurd as a man in a gorilla suit playing basketball. Deep focus on one thing may, in effect, create a blind spot in another area.

Pickpockets know all about this, and have used it for centuries. An “accidental” bump from a stranger is enough to pull your attention away from the location of your wallet or handbag, and while you receive the profuse apology, that same person, (or possibly an accomplice,) is taking something valuable that belongs to you. Only later, when you are remembering the seemingly-polite encounter with a smile, do you realize that your handbag or wallet is gone.

In light of some recent conversations, I can’t help but ask myself the question: What else am I missing? I know that my sons and my husband won’t deliberately take advantage of my inattention. They have my best interests in mind, right? (I hope so!)

But not everyone does. In fact, when we follow the Lord Christ, we do become a target for deception, or distraction, anything that takes our focus off of God.

Our focus is to watch and pray.

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Hebrews 2:1)

I have a note in my King James bible that says that last part, “lest we let them slip,” could be translated as “lest we run out as leaking vessels.” That description does remind me of my ability to pay attention lately!

We are supposed to watch and pray.

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ “(1 Peter 4:7-8)T

That’s where we are, right? “The end of all things is at hand.” It doesn’t make sense for me to allow business/busyness, or distractions to steal my attention away from the Lord, or from what’s going on with our brothers and sisters. Noted!

Our purpose in watching is not so that we can worry; to the contrary, it is to keep our eyes on Jesus, and to pray about everything. We are to be aware of what is happening so that our prayers can be detailed and meaningful. We can give our concerns to the Lord and go on with His peace in our hearts. And peace allows us to focus.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

The Lord will protect and guide us through the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13)

Julie’s Testimony

An example of that kind of protection came to my mind as I was writing this. A few years ago, I knew a woman named Julie who witnessed a terrible single-vehicle accident that happened right in her front yard. She said that out of the blue, a truck slammed into the tree in her front yard. The impact caused the gas tank to break, and fuel began spilling into the road.

The person driving the truck slumped over the steering wheel. Julie wasn’t clear about whether they were alive or dead, but everyone in the gathering crowd was afraid to help him, for fear the truck would explode.

In just that moment, before she even had time to pray, Julie heard a voice say “Turn on the hose!”

“Turn on the hose!” she repeated, and her son ran to do it. He pulled the end of the hose out to the road and began spraying.

The area under the truck was soon flooded with water, and then, someone was able to get to the driver and pull him out and away from the truck. When the fire trucks arrived, they flooded the street even more to dilute the gas.

After the excitement was over, and the man had been taken to the hospital, Julie asked the people around her who it was that had spoken out about turning on the hose.

But no one remembered the other voice. They all thought she was the one with the idea; but she knew that she would never have thought of flooding the street with water.

Julie knew she heard the voice in her ear, and understood that it could only have been the Holy Spirit. He gave her the information she needed, right when she needed it, so that the accident victim, her home, and also the bystanders, would be safe from fire.

Amazing testimonies like these happen when we trust God to warn us, to protect us, and to comfort us throughout the trials of this life. Don’t be afraid of the plans of the wicked, for our help is only a prayer away. Our only fear should be of losing touch with our loving Father, upon whom all depends!

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Have a wonderful day, my friends! Watch out for each other, and pray about everything–much love to you!