What Makes The Difference? Attentiveness!

This is the most fundamentally important devotional in my own life!

St. John of Damaskos says: “Without attentiveness and watchfulness of the intellect we cannot be saved and rescued from the devil, who walks about ‘like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour’.”

Sounds pretty serious.

And yet, the virtue of attentiveness is so very difficult and elusive.

I suppose it’s so difficult because it's exhausting to have to stay attentive all the time. I get it. It’s discouraging.

The Fathers often teach us that attentiveness and discernment are the greatest virtues to develop and have spiritual health. In fact, there seems to be no doubt reading the Scriptures and the Wisdom of the Church Fathers that learning the marathon path of attentiveness means “praying without ceasing” and bringing “every thought captive to Jesus Christ.”

No wonder the Church gives us the spiritual discipline of confession to reset our attention and correct our thinking.

The entire Orthodox Faith is designed to cultivate attentiveness and faithfulness in your everyday life. BUT, the key to unlocking these treasures in my life takes a purposeful act of my will. I must exercise my will to transform these treasures into more than accidental Orthodoxy.

Look at our lesson today in Ephesians 5:8-19:

Brethren, walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.

What powerful words from St. Paul to the Church at Ephesus! He makes three fundamental contrasts that reveal the way to stay attentive and discerning, so you’ll know where the right path for your life lies.