What does it mean to pay attention? It means you are noticing what is around you; you are listening; attentive; on alert. You are, in a sense, on guard duty.
Years ago, I was on guard duty a few times while in the Army. The biggest description of guard duty (like 99% of the time) is BORING; 12 hours feels like 22 days. Your main command is to not fall asleep. To keep watch.
(It's no surprise that the angels came to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. They were keeping watch over their sheep through the night to keep them safe. Heck, they might have been the only ones awake.)
We are to keep watch in this life. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour."
The devil will try to distract you, deceive you, trick you, condemn you.
The other part of keeping watch is the best part. Keep watch for God! Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"
If we keep watch; if we are alert and waiting expectantly for God to show up, we will see him. We will see His hand in people's lives. If we aren't watching for God though we will miss out on seeing what he is doing. His work happens deep within people. His work is unseen, but the fruit of it will show itself. The showings may be very tiny -- just a word; a glance. Maybe a question or a statement. Life is in a sense a long night of guard duty. Most of the time the hours are filled with nothing significant. Only if you are watching will you see that tiny movement barely visible to the eye. Only if you are watching will you hear the faint footsteps of someone behind the far-off tree.
God came to Elijah in a whisper. God's work might be felt in the light touch of someone's trembling hand. Or maybe through a silent impression within you leading you to quietly put your arm around someone in your family you never would have touched before.
God is more powerful than the entire universe. But he is the one who comes to us most gently and quietly.
He entered our world in the most helpless state -- a newborn baby. Human babies are more helpless than any other kind of baby. Newborn puppies can find their mother's milk. Newborn horses and cows stand within minutes of birth. A newborn human is dependent on her mama to pick her up and put her on the breast.
This is how Jesus came to earth -- that is how he came to save us -- completely helpless!
God is the same yesterday, today and forever (that's from Hebrews 13). He still comes in tiny ways, in quiet ways, in nudging ways, in silent ways, in unexpected ways.
Keep watch. Be like the shepherds who saw the angels in the skies over Bethlehem. You just might see God today.