“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”
– Romans 1:21,22
Today, I want to talk to you about the power of focus. According to the dictionary, focus means “the center of interest or activity” and I want to assert that when you keep your eyes fixed and focused on Jesus, everything else will work out the way it’s supposed to. As you make God the center of your attention, He will loosen your grip on yourself and allow you to show agape love to others, even when they disappoint you or don’t give you what you need. Without effort or intense striving, He will empower you to be selfless and you will find yourself giving from a place of fullness; the kind that comes from a citizenship that is firmly established in the Kingdom of God! According to Romans 1, there are people whom the Lord has chosen to see Him and understand Him clearly, but because of their wrong focus — an obsession with self and sinful desires — they turn their back on their knowledge and deny His reality. In fact, I believe this happens frequently to people whom He has gifted with a natural inclination towards the things of His Kingdom; those who have a keen awareness of Spiritual realities. Sadly, these folks often become the most destructive because, even though they know deep down the power, life, abundance and goodness of God, they turn away from Him, choosing instead to become cruel and selfish. This is precisely why proper focus is so important! Friend, when you turn your mind and heart towards Jesus and make Him the primary object of your attention and focus, the problems you are most worried about become less significant and the things that tend to distract you lose their luster. As you allow Him to be the King of your life, you assume your natural position as a prince or princess — an heir of His powerful presence and amazing promises! Keep your Heavenly Father on the throne of your heart, allow Him to transform you from glory to glory, and watch as everything else changes! |
Prayer
Jesus, help me shift my focus and make you the object of my attention and affection; I want you to sit on the throne of my heart.
Reflection
Is Jesus the primary object of your focus? Why or why not?
One Response
Yes.He is the center of my focus which means that I can turn to him during the stressful periods.Such as trying to take care of Mom when my sister was doing her work.And also when I was going through four rounds of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.I also turn to him in silent prayer before the proclamation of either the first or second reading during the liturgy of the Word. I want to know that he is always with me and that I can rest in his loving embrace. He is my rock of safety and guiding light.As always I remain a faithful viewer of The Hour of Power and A Happy and Wholesome Student in Jesus Christ. May God bless all the congregation of Shepherd’s Grove at Irvine Presbyterian Church and especially Pastor Bobby Schuller and his beautiful family. Love and prayers to all of them