Focus

Before I had kids (3 in 3.5 years), I loved taking selfies.  My husband recently backed up all our many photos on the computer, and tried to delete duplicates.  He was blown away by how many selfies I had taken.  There would be countless ones that almost looked the same.

Then I had kids and I took many, many, many pics of them.  I think I captured every moment possible for all of them.  They definitely won’t lack baby photos to share with their kids someday. 

We have 4 baby bunnies right now, and I can’t stop taking lots of pictures of them.  They are just so cute, and fuzzy, and adorable!

Scrolling though my phone’s images, I am starting to see patterns – areas that called my attention over the year.  Things that were important to me, and what wasn’t.  My camera has been showing me where my focus has been.

I see this like my journey with Christ.  When I first began to get to know God, I was still so focused on ME.  All that mattered to me was my happiness and my satisfaction. 

As I began to get closer to Him, by reading His word, spending time praying & worshipping Him, and having quality time talking with God, my focus shifted.  I stopped caring about things that made me happy, but began to concentrate on what made Him happy.  Over time, having countless beautiful shoes and lots of indulgent foods didn’t matter as much. 

I found myself thinking of Him more than myself.  I wanted His love and approval – not because it was something I wanted to earn, but because I had fallen so much in love with Him that His happiness had become more important than mine.  When God is happy, I am happy.  He is the air that I breathe, the reason I wake up smiling every day, the sun shining on my face, and the reason I am who I am. 

The longer I keep my eyes on Christ, the less power the cares of this world hold over me.  He is my rock and pillar, my strong protector, my provider and safe place.  When everything is falling apart around me, my attention stays on Him and I feel nothing but His peace.  All I can see now is Him.  He is all I am focused on; He is my everything. 

Even though I am living and functioning in the world, my thoughts are on Him.  He is with me always and I never want to be apart.  Everyday we grow closer, and I am changing more in His image.  I couldn’t imagine living without Him, nor would I ever want to.

Where is your focus today?  Is all of your attention on your wants and desires?  Are you preoccupied with the ways of this world? 

Or have you found Him?  Is Jesus Christ the anchor in your raging seas?  When you focus on God, everything falls into place and you experience the greatest peace that surpasses all understanding. 

I invite you today to put Him first.  It just might change your focus.