Merriam-Webster defines focus as directing your attention or effort at something specific. To adjust to make an image clear.
Seems everyday we find our focus is on things and people who bring uneasiness. If our focus is solely on world events? We will spend some hours with elevated blood pressure and perhaps even outright fear. Next comes anger at people. If we focus on the actions of others that attempt to effect our lives, we lose our peace. We find ourselves prisoners to the behavior of others.
World events are just that…World events. We can protest this or that. We can make requests that seem to fall on deaf ears. Most of the things we read and hear about daily don’t touch us directly but certainly indirectly will touch our future. We see the future of our children and grandchildren in jeopardy.
What can we do to step out of the squirrel cage that the world has become? Stop running in place, getting nowhere or nothing but breathless and anxiety ridden? What does God’s word say about what we should focus on?
~Thought For Today~
God says we have a choice. Yes you and I…We have a choice! If our focus is on the things of the world then we will be troubled. I believe it is good for believers to hold our leaders feet to the fire. Accountability for their actions. But, our focus should quickly fix back on what we know to be true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable.
Jesus. The eyes that focus on Jesus will withstand the storms of a world gone haywire. Those eyes will see the wind and the waves and begin to sink in the troubles of the world. A world on the wrong path.
The eyes that keep Jesus as the center of focus will find peace. Will sleep well. Will be successful. Will wait on the Lord to take care of business. We know that He will…Take care of business. Our role as believers? Trust Him with our lives and families.
~Scripture For Today~
Philippians 4:8-9
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (NLT)
Matthew 14:28-31
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. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” (NLT)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Just gonna be honest. You know our hearts anyway. You know the difficulty we have trusting. Sometimes our faith weakens while watching evil realize one victory after another. Your word says that evil must come to the forefront so that it can be destroyed. Yet, it is hard to watch it, day after day. It is hard when evil laughs in our face. Father, we pray that we turn our focus back on Your Son. Our pilot through this world. Our Savior leading us on the good path, protected as we cross the battlefields of our lives. Forgive us when our eyes look to the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.