Fixing My Focus
It happens. Life happens. Situations can hit us from seemingly everywhere and we feel like we are being punched in the face. We can get caught up in the whirlwind of our stuff and lose our focus. It's like getting off of an amusement park ride. You think the whole world is spinning out of control when in reality it's just you! You have been spun around until you've lost your focus.
When we lose focus, we don't see things correctly. We start to see things from a distorted point of view. A photographer whose lens is out of focus will take a picture that looks fuzzy. Nothing wrong with the camera it's just the focus is off. Staying focused is crucial if we want to make it through.
I love King David. He gives me hope!! The Bible calls him a man after God's own heart yet he came from nowhere, was really no one and made some pretty crappy mistakes. I mean if a teenager can slay a giant with a rock, save a nation, then commit adultery and murder and be a man after God's heart he's gotta be doing something right.
Obviously, God chooses to use imperfect people or He would have no one to use...so what is it about David God loved? What was so right or good about his heart? If you read the Psalms you find he was able to admit his faults, repent, voice his feelings and frustrations but then knew and was able to turn himself around and get back up on his feet.
David was able to fix his focus. We can all lose focus that isn't the problem. Messing up is what we all do. But it's what we do about it that counts. I was reading Psalms 143 and this principle really stood out to me.
In this Psalm David is in a bad place emotionally. He's frustrated and down. So, he is recanting his woes to the Lord. In verse 3-4 he states, "For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead. Therefore, my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed. Ever felt like that?? I know I have!! But then he shifts and begins to REMEMBER....
Verse 5-6 says, "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. He begins to shift his focus from his problems and begins to set his mind on past victories and what God has done for him.
Then in verses 7-12 he goes a step further and prays, "
1. Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
2. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust;
3.Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
4. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.
5. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good.
6. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
7. Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies.
He is systematically changing his focus. He went from moaning about his situation to meditating on God's goodness to him, to praying which is how God can then step in and do something about his problem.
That is fixing your focus. Shifting from what it "looks" like to focusing on what God can do about it. When our focus is inward, when it's all about us, then we can't see what God is able to do. We only see the problem and the more we focus on our problem the bigger it becomes.
God's sees from the beginning to the end. We only see in part. So, who exactly should we be trusting, our limited view of things or God?? Perspective is everything. We must fix our focus, change our perspective so that we can see past the now into what could be when God is involved.
I have some pretty difficult issues I'm facing. I have had to do just what David did. I had to choose to trust in the nature of God. To believe that what His word says of Him is not only true but it is true for me now. I choose to say God, this looks impossible. This is hard. BUT your word is true, you are not a liar, you are faithful. Your Word will never fall or fail. I can stand knowing you are working it all out for my good. Period.
Does it always look that way? Nope. Do I get a little discouraged sometimes, yep. BUT like David I just adjust my focus AGAIN and keep going. For me there is no other way. I have history with God. I can say like David in Psalm 37:25, "Once I was young, and now I am old. YET I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread."
It may not always turn out like I want or the process may be different than I would do it but GOD IS FAITHFUL. He will do what is best for me, He loves me, He never leaves me. He's got it. What are those things in your life that look bad? Do you need to fix your focus? I would love to pray with you. Post your concern in the comments below and I will pray and believe God with you!