Focus.

I wonder if you are like me. . . I often find myself with good intentions that often go awry.  I am highly distractable (insert bright, shiny object here).   

Yet, the word that came to me tonight was "focus."  Like I often do, I looked up the meaning of the word and according to Professor Google, the noun means "the center of interest or activity" or "the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition."  Let's look at the verb, however.  To focus is to "(of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly" or "pay particular attention to."  Hmmm.  As you may have guessed, my interpretation has a slight slant to it. . .

I heard on the radio earlier today that Jesus had developed the habit of obedience.  While I won't explore that concept at this time, I would venture to say that Jesus was, indeed, focused.  In all things, Jesus always prayed for His Father's will (Matthew 6:9-13, John 17:1-26 to quote a sampling).  We might think it was easy for Jesus to pray for God's will on earth, but the Bible clearly tells us that He was tempted in every way that we are today:  "Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son;  because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." (Hebrews 4:14-15, CEB)

So, what is it that kept Jesus from distraction?  He knew His Father's will for Him was far greater than what He could purpose for Himself.  Even as He was fully God, He was fully human as well.  This is why we can have confidence that He knows our every emotion  - good, bad or indifferent. 

So, how do we find the focus that Jesus had?  Is it even possible?  Oh, yes, my dear friend, it is.

Let us turn to the Scripture, the very Word of Life that Jesus embodies:

Psalm 16:5 - LORD, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. (HCSB)

Psalm 37:5 - Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:5-6  - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (ESV)

Proverbs 16:9  - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (ESV)

Isaiah 43:18-19  - “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 2:9  - But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (ESV)

Many of these Scriptures may be familiar to you, but let's go back to our word, "focus" so you understand why I am sharing these verses with you.

The definition that struck me was this:  "(of a person or their eyes) [to] adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly."  If you are a follower of my blog, you will recall I wrote about "The Eyes With Which We See."  I spoke about viewing our lives through our spiritual eyes versus our natural eyes.  I believe focus is not much different.  We must "adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly" but we must be certain of the source of that light.  If it is not God, what is it?  Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path."  His Word, God's Word, illuminates the path before us.  So many times we try to hold up the lamp of our own making, a manufactured ideal that we are in charge of where we are going and what we are doing.  Yes, we have been given free choice to choose God or reject Him, but once we have the Holy Spirit living in us, any attempt to deviate from the path of righteousness leaves us frustrated, disappointed and full of regret. 

Believe me, I am not immune to this process.  Again, I am highly distractable.  I often times find myself doing things that waste time and effort and then I kick myself later for doing so.  We are not alone in this.  Even Paul, the greatest apostle that ever lived, told us in Romans 7:15 that "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (NIV)  So, what did He do? He focused on the right Light.  The Light of Jesus, the Living Word of God.

I know it's hard to take it all in.  I struggle just as you do.  But, we do have a hope in Jesus.  Once we are born again of Him and of His Spirit, we can and will accomplish all that He has predestined us to do.  We may make choices that delay possession of that destined blessing, but in the end, when we hone in on what we have as sons and daughters of the Most High King, the possibilities are endless.

So, perhaps instead of getting all wrapped up in what I am not accomplishing and allowing myself to escape into my distraction of choice, I really should get focused.  But first, I think I'll ask God to give me a peek at His plan for my life. And even if the road ahead requires mud boots and waders, I am confident that the Light I see in the distance will take me to a future that can be nothing short of glorious.