focus

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I focus on my problems and my fears and my insecurities they just seem to grow bigger and bigger, but when I focus on you if changes everything.  Help me to keep my eyes focused on you today, so that you would grow far bigger in me than any of my worries.  Amen.

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Journal: What are the things weighing heavy on you these days?  What are the things causing you to be worried and upset?  How are they keeping you from focusing on Jesus?  What does it look like to be rule by the one thing rather than the many things today?

Reflection: Focus is everything in the spiritual life.  It is so easy to get distracted, just ask Martha.  It seems that the more we focus on the problems, or the challenges, or the obstacles, or the enormous amount of things to do, the more overwhelmed and frustrated we become.  The “many things” dominate us.  They cause us to live our lives worried and upset, or, in the Greek, torn in two with many cares.

     The truth is that only one care really matters.  If we can train our hearts and minds to focus first on Jesus, if we can sit at his feet and listen to what he says rather than be dragged around by the many things pulling on our hearts and minds, then that changes everything.  That puts everything else in proper perspective.  That allows us to look past the chaos on the surface and instead be ruled by the peace and presence of Christ deep in our hearts and souls.  Then we are not dominated by trying to keep all of our plates spinning, but are able to be centered on him instead.  The question is, “Will I focus on the plates, or will I focus on the point?”

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage and the discipline to sit at your feet today and listen to what you say.  Amen.