We can often be a little ADD. I have some friends who joke
about the “chickens” or “squirrels” that yank our focus out of a conversation.
Our minds are so over stimulated, it’s hard to focus on just one thing for very
long.
Yes, we joke about it, but losing our focus on Jesus can
wreak havoc in our daily lives. In my devotional (Jesus Calling) this morning,
I read, “I am with you in all that you do, even in the most menial task…
However, your awareness of My Presence falters and flickers; as a result, your
life experience feels fragmented. (to say the least!) When your focus is broad
enough to include Me in your thoughts, you feel safe and complete. When your
perception narrows so that problems or details fill your consciousness, you
feel empty and incomplete.”
There are so many things in this life that divert our attention from Jesus and cause us to fear.
And they are real, legitimate fears. I’ve been through the death of a child. I’ve
watched both my parents die of cancer. I’ve witnessed my son as he struggles to
stay clean and sober after years of a drug addiction so powerful that, at times,
it seemed he would never be free. These are things I wish no one ever had to
experience, but we all do. Whether it’s the struggle to keep a job, chronic
pain, aging parents or depression, everyone has very real problems and issues
that can so easily steal your joy, your faith, and your focus.
That’s why we need to make it our number one priority to
know Jesus, to spend time in His presence, reading His Word and focusing on
Him. Then when the fear, pain and darkness begins to engulf us, we can say,
sometimes with teeth and fists clenched, “I trust You, Lord, I trust You.”
Sometimes that’s all I can say. I can’t come up with any lofty words or pious
prayers. It takes every ounce of energy and focus I have to look to Jesus and
trust Him, rather than become consumed with the problems of life.
My devotional continues, “Though the world is unstable and
in flux, you can experience continuity through your uninterrupted awareness of
My Presence. Fix you gaze on what is unseen, even as the visible world parades
before your eyes.”
So, as all the chickens and squirrels parade across my path,
I will use every ounce of my being to maintain my focus on Jesus, to fix my
gaze on what is unseen, to hold tightly to My Unswerving Hope.
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I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you think and how I can pray for you. Most of us are carrying some pretty heavy baggage and the good news is, you don't have to carry it alone! You can lay it at the feet of Jesus, and sometimes we need help just letting go of our baggage and not picking it up again. We're in this together!