In reading through the Old Testament in the Bible, you see “thus says the Lord” or “the word of the Lord to …” over and over again, chapter after chapter. God is speaking to His people. God wants to have regular communication with us, too. He wants to talk with us. He wants true relationship with us. He wants us to know Him!

So I asked myself, “How much time do I give for Him to talk to me? Do I do all the talking, but no listening? Do I stop what I’m doing and give Him my full attention?”

I talk to God a lot throughout my day. Praying without ceasing, as the Apostle Paul tells us (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Just as Nehemiah did in the middle of his conversation with the king (Nehemiah 2). But as I was praying the other day, while driving, God brought to mind all my busyness while praying to Him, and likened it to when I am trying to spend time with someone and converse, only to have them pick up their phone. “Listening” to me while also being engrossed with what is on their screen. When that happens, I don’t feel very important, nor do I feel like what I am saying really matters to them. Ugh! If I choose not to give dedicated time to God, actually conversing, having a two-way conversation, I am essentially doing the same thing.

If I want a deeper relationship with God, if I want to truly know Him and understand Him (Psalm 119:144, Isaiah 43:10) I must take the time to spend with Him talking AND listening. I must have a true time of prayer. Yes, pray without ceasing, practicing the presence of God in every aspect of life, but also choosing to give God my undivided attention.

“‘…and you shall know [with an acquaintance and understanding based on and grounded in personal experience] that I am the Lord; for they shall not be put to shame who wait for, look for, hope for and expect Me.’” Isaiah 49:23 AMP

Undivided attention makes me feel special, seen, heard, liked, important. If I feel that way in my humanity, how much more should I give God my undivided attention, the true worship that He deserves.

What about you? How good are you at giving God undivided attention? How much time do you spend in uninterrupted, focused prayer?

Let us take the time to show God our love, devotion, and worship through prayer by giving Him our undivided attention, then we can go and be One Dawning Light, reflecting back His presence to others just as Moses did when He spent that quality time with God (Exodus 34).