What’s Your Focus?
What’s Your Focus?
Have you ever lost your focus? –Like in life? Ever wondered what in the world am I even suppose to be focused on? As a Christian, I know the right answer. “Focus on Jesus.” That’s what I’m supposed to say. …And it’s true. But what about in life–like what you’re supposed to do in your life–your call, your job, your business, your relationships, your ministry,… How do you know what to focus on? I mean, as a person with a lot of interests and desires and dreams, how do I know which ones I should follow? I’m 53 y’all. I should know this by now, right?
A couple of weeks ago I was asking the Lord about this, which basically sounded like, “Help! I don’t know what to do! (sob)” I felt a shifting and a sifting happening inside of me that week. It didn’t feel good, but I knew it was good–like when someone massages a knot in a muscle that is tight. At first it kind of hurts and then just before it relaxes it starts to twitch and vibrated and then… ahh. Release. Well, that’s how my insides felt for a few days.
The following week as I was preparing for a Bible discussion group, the Lord gave me a picture of a magnifying glass. One side of the magnifying glass was pointing toward the sun. Okay, I get that. The sun is Jesus. The other side, though, was pointing toward the earth. Ever tried to start a fire with a magnifying glass? It has to be directed exactly toward the sun on one side and close to the earth where the light is narrowed down to one spot on the earth–and then it can get hot enough to start a fire.
Aha! While I focus on Jesus, He intensifies my focus in me and through me and helps me to focus on that point that I’m called to, to be most effective.
Isn’t that a cool picture?!
How do I know where to focus? How do I know my next step? How do I know I’m heading in the right direction? I need to get still and focus on God–let Him speak to me–or show me pictures–or give me a word–or give me an impression. But I have to get still and listen. When I saw the picture of the magnifying glass, I wasn’t focused on my need. I was just looking to God in His Word to see what He had to say. And He showed me something that I needed. Little by little over the past three weeks, a refining of my focus has taken place and the relief and release of my knotted up soul is here.
What Are You Magnifying?
As I pondered this magnifying picture, I realized that it matters what I’m magnifying. Am I looking through the glass magnifying my situation?–My desires? My worries? Expectations of others?–Or am I magnifying Jesus ONTO my situation, worries, desire, etc?
I just started reading the book that my friend, Janelle Anderson, published this month called Come into My Garden. I was struck right away by this quote in the introduction:
“If I fix my eyes upon Jesus (Heb 12:2), the intuitive flow comes from Jesus. But if I fix my gaze upon some desire of my heart, the intuitive flow comes out of that desire. To have a pure flow I must become still and carefully fix my eyes upon Jesus. Quietly worshiping the King and receiving out of the stillness that follows quite easily accomplishes this.” (Italics are mine.)
I’m wanting that flow in my life that comes from God and leads me into all that which He has for me here on the earth, for that which my heart is yearning. Focusing on the sun, Jesus, is clarifying my focus in my life and intensifying the effects of my actions. My “intuitive flow,” what I know to be right, the leading of my spirit, the leading of The Spirit, will become clear.
