Listen

All of you are children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to night or darkness. So then, let’s not sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

Think

It’s possible to be awake and, at the same time, be distracted. We can spend hours staring at a screen, replying to messages without giving them much thought, or going through the motions without stopping to ask ourselves where we’re going. We can also get so used to certain things that we stop asking ourselves whether they’re really doing us any good. Paul talks about staying awake and in our right minds. The idea is simple: pay attention.

We need to learn to recognize what is happening inside us: our emotions, our decisions, our priorities, and the things we are gradually beginning to consider normal. Being mindful also means recognizing the opportunities we have to do good, ask for forgiveness, change course, or draw closer to God. Not everything that deserves our attention comes with a notification. Sometimes, the wisest decision of the day is to pause, be still, and pay attention.

Christian O. Estrada Cora

Question to Ponder:

In what area of my life do I need to stop going through the motions and start paying more attention?

Pray

God, awaken my heart and help me pay attention to what is happening within me and around me. Give me the wisdom to recognize when I need to change course. Amen.

Go

Here’s the challenge for the day: Choose one thing you know you need to do and do it. Not tomorrow. Not when you have more time. Do it today. Put wisdom into practice with a specific decision.