Just because you’re aware of something doesn’t mean you’ll take action. Just because you do something that prompts awareness doesn’t mean you prompt others into action. And while we’re on the subject, awareness and attention aren’t the same thing.

Throughout August, there were so many things in the news that called out for attention–Ferguson riots, ISIS jihadists, Christian persecutions, peace talks/broken treaties, and the list goes on. I heard a couple comments over and over about [INSERT ISSUE], mostly through rantings and rationalizations.

I had no idea./I don’t really know what’s going on./No one really knows the whole story, so I’m going to let it sort itself out before jumping to conclusions.

I wish there was something I could do about it, but I’m so far away/I don’t have any influence/It doesn’t involve me.

First, if you don’t know what’s going on, you have the opportunity to find out. Ask questions. If you don’t really want to know what’s going on, then be honest to yourself and others. We can’t know everything about everything, and God stirs different passions in us. But don’t use “that’s not my passion” as an excuse. God wants us to have compassion. He wants us to invest in others’ lives even when they’re messy. He wants us to take a stand…for Him. Of course, you don’t know the whole story. But God does. If you wait until it all sorts out and all the details are revealed, you’ll be waiting until you die. Unless you were there, you don’t know the details. Even if you were there, you only know your perspective. God is the only one who has all the details, but we can look for His perspective. We can seek His will. We can honor Him with our response. The way we often get the details or sort it out is by looking for opinions (disguised as facts) that support what we want to believe. So, how can we possibly know the truth? Seek God. Know God. Ask God. The answers you get might not be what you want or expect, but you’ll get God’s presence and peace, as well as a prompt toward action and accountability.

Second, stop limiting yourself. When you claim to be following God, and you limit yourself, you’re actually putting limits on what you expect from God. God can do anything. It doesn’t mean He will do everything, but all things are possible for Him. If He wants you to do something, He will make a way. Be sensitive to how He’s leading and providing. You might miss out, because you define what you think the response should be, and if God doesn’t seem to prompt or provide toward that response, you back off. He could be prompting and providing toward another response. Ask Him what He wants you to do. Trust Him to provide…on His terms, not yours.

Don’t get lazy. Get aware…and take action. Action without awareness is blind. Action with awareness requires discernment. Attention is only attention, not awareness. You can command attention without helping others, or yourself, become truly aware of a situation or issue. Awareness requires sensitivity, compassion, commitment, wisdom, truth, perseverance, patience, kindness, and the list goes on.

Pay attention to what God wants says. Become aware about God Himself, and let Him guide into every other area, issue, or situation. Take action as God leads, one step at a time, not too slowly and not too quickly, not in your own will, but in God’s. He has the perspective you need for both awareness and action.

Make my steps steady through Your promise. (Psalm 119:133a)