Devo 4: Focus, Focus, Focus...

Sorry this is really late. I want to be regular about this. Here we go...

In my journey of walking with the Lord, I used to think that in order to get closer to God I needed to read my Bible more, study more, pray harder, journal more, go to church more, get involved in more programs...on and on and on. However, I sort of stumbled onto a truth when I was in a season of commuting to college. I began to really want to hear the Lord's voice, and I felt like my head was crowded with so much "noise." It was just meaningless noise that kept my mind scattered and unable to really focus on anything.

So, I decided that I was no longer going to listen to music in my car. I was going to spend that time in silence asking the Lord to speak to me. At first, it was really hard, but after about two weeks, I finally began to like it and actually pray and talk and listen. At another point in my life, I decided I wanted to go another step with it and I cut out TV. Then, my relationship with God went deeper, then I decided to fast--it went deeper, then I decided to give up movies--even deeper, then I decided to--well, you get the point.

I began to see that it's not what you do that brings you closer to God, but it is about getting rid of unnecessary things that clutter up your life and hinder you from entering into a deeper relationship with God. I call it the concept of focus.

This is a very biblical concept. Paul said, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and pressing on toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). In context, Paul is specifically referencing the persecution he was facing when he talks about "what is behind," but his point is focus, and he carries it on into verses 18-20, when he refers to those who set their mind on earthly things as being "enemies of the cross" and how our citizenship is in heaven.

The writer of Hebrews addresses the concept of focus when he says, "Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race which is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith who for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1-3) He is specifically addressing throwing off sin, but His point is that we look at Jesus who knew the joy that He would have and endured the cross in spite of everything.

This concept of focus is hard for us to wrap our minds around, because it is not about doing more to earn God's love, but it is about throwing off the things that keep us from running toward God's love.

This week, ask the Lord about one or two areas in your life where you can narrow your time and energy to focus on Him. Maybe it's on your way to work or school, washing the dishes, or in the shower. Focus on the Lord by thinking/meditating on a passage about Jesus--the cross (Phil. 2:5-8), the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Col. 1:27), the throne room (Rev. 4 & 5).

One note of admonition: This is not about "emptying your mind." This is about focusing your mind on Christ and letting everything else get blown away by His presence. John the Baptist said, "He must increase and I must decrease" (John 3). So don't worry about what you are getting rid of, but focus on what you want--Jesus.

Blessings,

Amanda

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