Where Is Our Focus?

I love nature.  My momma loved nature, and all through my growing-up years she lived that love, just like she lived the love of Jesus.  I am experiencing a time when I have been blessed with more “free” time than ever before.  No matter the season, I want to be outside observing and taking photos of the beauty I see in it. I will quite literally spend hours doing it and am astounded when I finally look at the time and see how long I’ve been searching.   All to see God’s beauty.  He is The Creator and the inventor of creativity, and I love it!  “Creative” is my favorite descriptor of God.  This is my happy place with God. This is where I feel peace and joy most often. During these precious times, I tend to focus on the little details.  I see God in all those minute creations that many people don’t see.  It’s glorious! It’s awe-inspiring! It’s a worship experience for me! Lots of praising goes on!

In the scenario above, my focus is on seeing God, so I do.  If my focus had been on all the wars and rumors of wars, or on the health of my dear mother-in-law, or the difficulty of watching my momma struggle through dementia…all the many, many worries of this life, I don’t think I would see God as easily as if I were focusing on seeing Him.  Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  It’s all about where we are looking. We humans have a self-destructive bent.  We tend to focus on the negative. And just like as children we must learn to be polite, and learn to refrain from touching the hot stove, we adults must learn to control where we focus and on Whom. Matthew 6:33 comes in a section of the beloved Sermon on the Mount. Just prior to this directive from Him, Jesus reminds us not to worry. Worry gets us nowhere. He tells us that God will take care of all our needs.  Not just ours, but our family’s needs, our country’s needs…all of it.

If, instead of watching the news constantly and sitting around worrying what I can do to help my family, stressing and striving, I focus on Bible study, KNOWING God, praying, talking with others about Him, serving Him, worshiping Him, and praising Him, these other things will be seen in a different light.  The Light of God will shine on these worries and concerns, and He will take care of them.  If God wishes for me to participate in these things, He will let me know! How will I know He wants to bless me with participating in these things? That’s a post for another time.

So, today…right now, ask God with an earnest heart, to help you see Him.  Really see Him.  Turn off that tv, or computer game, put down those worries.  Open your Bible or Bible app and begin.  Begin to focus on God with all that you are. Learn to focus by focusing.  I’m praying for you!  

“Grace & Peace to you from God the Father & our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:3

XO

-C