The Focus Struggle

Sunday’s Monday

This has been a great week to be alive here on planet earth! I have inadvertently made contact with several people which I hadn’t seen or talked to in years and that brought joy to my heart. Worked with my grandson Adam Findley again this week and I can tell I’m getting spoiled by his helping out. I even enjoyed shopping with Pat Saturday and that’s a big change for me. We had a great time, well she had a great and I had a good time.

God has given me the thought of focus this week. Focused in dictionary.com reads; (verb) focused, to bring to a focus or into focus; cause to converge on a perceived point: When I think of focus I immediately think of the old hymn titled “Keep Your Eyes Upon Jesus” and that brings the apostle Peter to my mind. Matthew 14:28-29 (NLT), 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So, Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. For me, this is the most perfect example of focus, ever! Peter committed his total focus on the eyes of Jesus and had no thought of where he was or what he was doing. However, once Peter allowed his focus to wander, he sank very quickly. Matthew 14:30 (NLT), But when he saw the strong[a] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. I can’t turn up my nose or roll my eyes at Peter’s action because this happens to me pretty much daily. It’s not usually a big thing but it happens. I will take my focus off God and I will sink with whatever it is. Focus can also be described as faith and everytime I allow doubt in, I at the same time lose an equal amount of faith or focus. There is no such thing of doubtful faith, just as doubt and faith cannot occupy the same space at the same time and neither can my human mind easily distinguish the difference. For example, there have been times in my life when God said wait and through my own desires my mind convinced me that God said facilitate, which translates into proceed or go ahead. Henceforth I do things under the umbrella of God which fails miserably because God really wasn’t in it at all. However, God has been faithful to teach me through my errors, merciful to heal my wounds and graceful to forgive my sin. Thank you, Lord! As I’ve already admitted that I struggle with my focus on God, but there is a scripture that I was introduced to a long time ago by a dear friend that helps. Luke 10:41-42 (NLT), 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” The things of this world only carry a value here on this earth and can be taken away at the drop of a hat. I can lose it while living my life here and definitely will lose it upon my death. A little question I’ve developed for myself is, will anyone know or better yet, will anyone care that I did this (whatever it is) after I’ve died? If not, why do it? I also use a little test my pastor gave me years ago, what are my motives for doing this (whatever it is) and who will it glorify? Again, this doesn’t work everytime because my mind doesn’t always recognize doubt. Although, when I use either tool (of wise words) it does bring my focus right into the face of Jesus and the plan is changed to bring a God worthy outcome. Today until I hear otherwise from God, my focus will be on, Colossians

3:16 (NLT), Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. I know from personal experience, when I’m following Colossians 3:16 I cannot develop a bad attitude, be rude or hateful to others and I like me a whole lot better. Please know, that it is in your best interest to give this a try and learn what focus on God can contribute to your happiness and wellbeing. I am seeing more of God at work today than ever before and it is not because He is doing more, it’s because I’m becoming more focused on Him and can see what He is doing. Remember to “KEEP YOUR EYES UPON JESUS” and see what He does in your life!