How do you pay attention in church?

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How do you pay attention in church? Whenever I went to church as a kid, I always had trouble paying attention. So, I always found myself taking out a pamphlet and just drawing on it. But, that's not how it's supposed to be, right? In the early days of the church, in the Bible, people loved it so much that it says, "Every day they continue to meet together in the temple courts." They met every day. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. So, these guys were meeting together every day, having fun while doing it, and it led to even more people coming to know God. But, how do we even get to the place of enjoying church like these guys when we sometimes struggle to pay attention? Well, after going to the same church now for over 10 years and loving it, here's what works for me. First, part of the reason we go to church is to reset and rest with God. Jesus says, "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Not so we could take a nap at church, but to remind ourselves that everything that's burning us out, that feels like it's too much to handle, we are to place that in the hands of God and allow him to guide us through it. The Bible says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." So, for me, practically, whenever I go to church, I think about all the things that are weighing me down, and I bring that to God because he cares for us. Now, does that mean that the problem will be solved as soon as I walk out of church? Probably not. But, he can give us the idea or the wisdom that's going to help us get through it. I know when I go to church, I'm not just hearing someone talk. I'm hearing God speak through someone that he intentionally placed there on purpose to give me what I need in the Bible. I've learned that if something appears boring, there's something that I can do to change that. Because the Bible says, "Be alert and of sober mind." This isn't just going to church. There are lives at stake. Our peace is at stake. Because your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. It goes on to say here that God can restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. The enemy wants to distract us from receiving what God is trying to say to us. We can choose to lock in. So, I need to remember, anytime somebody reads the Bible or teaches from the Bible, God is using that to try to speak to me. But, how can we know this? Because the Bible says, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God, you and I, may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Whenever we go to church, whenever we read or hear the Bible, God is equipping us with what we need to walk through this season that feels too much to handle. And remember, when we accept the salvation of Jesus, God also sends us the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us and remind us of what he said in here, because he doesn't want us to do this alone. We're not supposed to. So, that's why when we go to church, we can choose to lock in. Think about that thing that's keeping you down and believe that God will give us what we need if we would just pay attention enough to receive it. Let me know, how do you pay attention in church? I'm praying for you today, friends. God bless.