A recent study by Microsoft revealed that the human attention span currently lasts a mere eight seconds. This is down from 12 seconds in the year 2000. If this trend continues, by the year 2030 we will need to refocus our attention 15 times a minute.

Meanwhile, the attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. Goldfish can pay attention longer than the average person! Researchers believe that the downward spiral of attention is directly related to the pace of change in our world, our connection to multiple electronic devices, and the daily barrage of digital information. Goldfish can focus longer than us because they don’t go online.

If you are like me, you have developed some media habits unintentionally. I catch myself checking the news feed on my phone unintentionally several times a day. It seems funny that we can form a habit without even thinking about it.

So this has me wondering. Can I develop some better habits on purpose? One habit I’m working on is listening to the Holy Spirit. Over the last several months, I’ve been intentional in three areas.

1. Dwelling in God’s Word.
2. Asking God’s Spirit to speak.
3. Listening carefully to God and other people.

I think that these three practices have actually helped grow my spiritual attention span. I have been surprised often. Lately, the number of times I’ve caught myself saying, “I see God’s Spirit at work in you.” I don’t think that God’s Spirit is more active now than He was a few months ago, I think I’ve just  noticed. Maybe you can explore the habit of listening to the Holy Spirit The Lord be with you,

Pastor Kent