We need to concentrate on the main things, not the noise of life that says “Now hear this!” Jesus urged us to concentrate on the main things the primary things.
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is both a command and a promise and I can tell you from personal experience that this works. It will work for you too but you have to try it.
The Apostle Paul said this;
Philippians 3:12-14 NIV Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
It was like he was saying that he was not going to waste time worrying about the foolish mistakes and sins of the past but, concerned with the main thing, he was going to press on toward the goal ahead. He was going to rejoice and pursue the joy of his salvation.
We can live our lives the same way. We must dedicate our time to God. We need to offer God everything, not only our abilities, our money, our energies, but also our time.
Editor’s Note: The following was inspired by the devotional Why Your Focus Matters
By Rick Warren
When you focus on the wrong things, you miss what God is doing in your life.
When your attention is only on the here and now, you miss God’s long-term plan. When you just think about comfort, you miss out on character. When you concentrate on happiness, you forget holiness. When you just want to enjoy the moment, you may not prepare for eternity.
When you’re thinking is short-term, you miss seeing the spiritual work God is doing all around you.
Mark 8:13-16 NIV Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
The disciples missed the point.
Mark 8:17 NIV Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
Jesus was trying to teach his disciples a lesson about pride. But they didn’t understand the deeper meaning—they thought he was talking about lunch. That’s short-term thinking. That was the wrong focus. While Jesus was talking about the need for maturity, his disciples were talking about their next meal.
Whenever you’re thinking short-term, you can’t see the larger picture of what God is doing in your life. You are looking at today, God is looking at eternity. He has a long-term plan for your life.
Changing your focus will help you to experience the hope that comes with God’s long-term plan.
To change your focus means being a part of something far bigger and more significant than each of us as individuals. It means having as our purpose in life to use and maximize all that we have been given to the glory of our Master and to the advancement of His Kingdom.
Romans 8:28-30 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Today, focus your thoughts on Jesus, the Saviour of the world, and meditate on how he saved you.
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is both a command and a promise and I can tell you from personal experience that this works. It will work for you too but you have to try it.
The Apostle Paul said this;
Philippians 3:12-14 NIV Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
It was like he was saying that he was not going to waste time worrying about the foolish mistakes and sins of the past but, concerned with the main thing, he was going to press on toward the goal ahead. He was going to rejoice and pursue the joy of his salvation.
We can live our lives the same way. We must dedicate our time to God. We need to offer God everything, not only our abilities, our money, our energies, but also our time.
Editor’s Note: The following was inspired by the devotional Why Your Focus Matters
By Rick Warren
When you focus on the wrong things, you miss what God is doing in your life.
When your attention is only on the here and now, you miss God’s long-term plan. When you just think about comfort, you miss out on character. When you concentrate on happiness, you forget holiness. When you just want to enjoy the moment, you may not prepare for eternity.
When you’re thinking is short-term, you miss seeing the spiritual work God is doing all around you.
Mark 8:13-16 NIV Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
The disciples missed the point.
Mark 8:17 NIV Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
Jesus was trying to teach his disciples a lesson about pride. But they didn’t understand the deeper meaning—they thought he was talking about lunch. That’s short-term thinking. That was the wrong focus. While Jesus was talking about the need for maturity, his disciples were talking about their next meal.
Whenever you’re thinking short-term, you can’t see the larger picture of what God is doing in your life. You are looking at today, God is looking at eternity. He has a long-term plan for your life.
Changing your focus will help you to experience the hope that comes with God’s long-term plan.
To change your focus means being a part of something far bigger and more significant than each of us as individuals. It means having as our purpose in life to use and maximize all that we have been given to the glory of our Master and to the advancement of His Kingdom.
Romans 8:28-30 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Today, focus your thoughts on Jesus, the Saviour of the world, and meditate on how he saved you.
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