I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
There is no greater calling for the Christian man than to walk in union with Christ. To live a life where the reality of Christ in you is your daily experience. Living out this profound mystery should be our main intention and desire. If we stop long enough to listen, we will hear the Spirit remind us He has initiated this desire within our hearts. He makes us willing and able to do His will. He planted this desire in us (Philippians 2:13).
Walking in alignment with this truth requires tuning in. It requires attunement. We become more attuned by grace as we learn the discipline of paying attention. We become more attuned to the Holy Spirit as we practice listening and take notice of His gentle movements. We will grow in attunement as we begin to pause and listen more deeply to what Scripture is saying, and as we pay closer attention to how providence is leading. The volume of the distracting noise around us will lower. We will become more aware and more attuned.
The enemy of attunement is distraction.
We are distracted. All of us could write the book on distraction. Notifications, scrolling, content overload. Messages from the culture, not being enough, try harder, do better, you need more. FOMO, jealousy, covetousness, and skin everywhere push and pull us into a blur of inattention. We live inside the truth that the eyes of man are never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20). If we are honest, we love distraction. If we are truly exposed, we may even admit we worship it, running to it for comfort, filling, and rest that only Christ can give.
The antidote to distraction is not trying harder. The antidote is attunement. We must learn to walk in the slower pace of paying attention. Attunement is our growing sensitivity to the voice, presence, and priorities of God that are being worked into us by the Holy Spirit. Being more attuned is a fruit of our union with Christ.
Attunement flows from grace rather than our relentless striving. It grows as we pay attention, as the Spirit opens our eyes while we practice abiding in Christ (John 15:4-5). He teaches us how to continuously draw near to our Lord who is always calling. No matter what you are doing, tune in to Him and His pursuit of you. He teaches us how to pay attention. He teaches us how to tune in.
The Next Question
- What keeps you from drawing near by faith to your Savior and paying attention and being attuned to what His Spirit is doing in you, around you, and through you?