What Is The Focus Of Your Attention?
Good Morning Friends,
Who is your hero? Many look up to sports stars and athletes, and others look up to musicians and movie stars. Heroes do things most of us cannot do. But God’s heroes were rarely men and women of extraordinary ability or talent. They were men and women of extraordinary faith. The two types of heroes do however have something in common with each other and those whose gaze is fixed upon them.
Maybe when you get up in the morning it is not so much eating the breakfast of champions as it is meditating about what it means to be a champion. What Is The Focus Of Your Attention?
Scripture: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Let your eyes look directly forwards, and your gaze be straight before you.
Proverbs 4:25 (NRSV)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
Colossians 3:2 (NRSV)
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8 (NRSV)
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.
Acts 16:25-26 (NRSV)
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Mark 1:35-1:39 (NRSV)
Message: Let’s face it, distractions keep us from living life the fullest. Focus makes all the difference. It allows us to see. But what we focus on also is so important. When we are driving focusing on the road ahead is so important. Distractions can kill us. The Bible gives us similar instructions. There are risks and rewards on the journey of life. But it always requires faith and courage to take the next step. Here a focus on Jesus appears risky but a focus on ourselves is actually riskier. If we are to stretch ourselves we need to have perseverance that is fueled by a focus on something greater than ourselves. Jesus had focus. He was clear about his purpose and clear about his priorities. Can you clearly articulate the focus and purpose of your life? To stay focused in life and do the work God has entrusted us, we must constantly pose the questions of purpose and priority. We must do what is needful, and make time for God in solitude. If you can, then you have a chance of glorifying God. Then you have the chance of really being a hero. Friends, your focus will determine your reality. How we feel is determined by our subjective focus. The Holy Spirit can guide us to find something good to focus on even in the worst of circumstances. The deal is that we see what we are looking for in others and in the world. To focus we need to be worshippers and not complainers. Look at Peter walking on water or read all of Acts 16 about Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi. The message here is to keep things in perspective and look at the big picture of God and if you take your eyes off external circumstances and keep the focus on Jesus, miracles can happen. Here our focus on God is nothing less than worship that gives us spiritual equilibrium and spiritual power. Here focus on accumulating positive memories of worship is the way to live heroically. Friends, you have the ability to choose a response that reflects the image of God. Most problems created on a human plane need to be solved on a supernatural plane. You cannot plan Pentecost. It has to be prayed into happening. Every negative event has in it the seed of an equal or greater positive event. Friends, focus on the positive and pray it into existence. The blame and shame game is not the way to focus. Focus on Jesus.
Pray we focus on the right reality. Pray we take time in solitude and prayer to start the day counting our blessings. Pray our choice of purpose keeps us focused on the positive.
Pray we hear the word of God that wipes away all our negative self-talk. Pray we are committed to God’s will. Pray that Jesus perfects our faith. Pray we are sincere in doing our duty. Pray we conquer our will and submit to God’s. Pray we realize that there is nothing to fear but sin and nothing to desire but God. Pray we be focused with devotion to God’s work. Pray we walk on the legs of faith and works. Pray we hang on focused on Jesus who knows when we need to take the next step. Pray that Jesus rescues us so that we might have more opportunities to grow. Pray we take the next step in faith not fear. Pray we overcome the bad news by focusing on the Good News. Pray we focus forward. Pray we focus on the kingdom not the crisis. Pray we focus less on our circumstances and more God’s love in our circumstances. Pray we seek to do that which is needed. Pray we do that which is most needed. Pray we are guided by the Holy Spirit. Pray we praise the Lord and never forget the benefits of doing so. Pray that our heroes have a focus on God. Pray we focus on Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 