Realigning Your Focus-Getting Back To Where You Need To Be

As I previously stated in my last post, this year has been unexpected to say the least. The difficulty that a lot of us have found ourselves in has truly hit us all like a ton of bricks. Some of us have lost jobs, some have realized that the relationship you are in isn’t as healthy as you thought it was. Some people have discovered there is more within them that needs to be healed and restored. For some, an opportunity has presented itself to examine your heart deeper and chase after your dreams instead of settling for what was/is. Some people have used this time to pour into themselves, their families, and have found the joy that they have been missing all along. Good and bad things have come from this pandemic. For me, it has allowed me to spend more time with my husband than I ever have because of the nature of his job. It’s also given us a chance to spend time with family more frequently, as well as pour into our own marriage. We have grown closer and because of that, I have allowed myself to acknowledge things within me that I still want to purify. What’s been great about this pandemic is that I’ve had opportunity to challenge myself in different ways, I’ve been able to recognize the religiosity I fell prey to in some areas of my life, and deal with it properly with repentance. I learned that my focus was lost, and I was able to shift it and get it back. I think that is what this pandemic has given us all-an opportunity to realign our focus and get back to where we need to be. Have you taken advantage of this opportunity? What have you done during this time to find your way back to God and His true intentions for your life? Are you still lost in worry about what’s next, or are you looking to him in the present and finding joy again? Are you seeking his presence and relying on HIS strength to get you through, or are you trying to be superwoman/superman to “fix” what has been broken by this pandemic? 

This is what I realized during this time. EVERYTHING we need is in Christ. Absolutely everything. Period.  I stopped striving to make my dreams come true, stopped complaining that they weren’t. I stopped looking at my life and where I am, the season I am in. I stopped comparing myself to others who seem to be ahead of me or seem to have it all together. Because let’s be honest, no one has it all together.  Some have figured out their path and what works for them and they work it, but nothing is all together. And the truth is, we don’t know what someone is going through or what they have gone through to get to where they are…or better yet, where they appear to be from where we are standing.

God’s word says that if we seek his kingdom, ALL these things will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).  So what are “these things”? These things are necessities. God is talking about our life, food, drink, clothes, etc. He is telling us not to worry about anything. He wants our focus on him. The flowers of the field, the birds in the air, don’t worry about their lives and livelihood, so how much more would He provide for and take care of us? He wants us to live in purpose, and our first purpose over all things is to be a son and daughter of the King. When we focus on that, our growth, and the state/posture of our heart, we walk in our true purpose; and then, all of the doors we’ve been dreaming of (that are in his will of course) begin to open. 

So as you go throughout the next few days, spend some time with the Lord and ask him to reveal to you what has been keeping you from spending time, daily, in his presence. What have you placed on a pedestal above him? What are you idolizing that has become your God? Has it been your dreams, your job, your children, your spouse, your lack of- what you consider -success, your worries? What has become your God over our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? When you become aware of this, repent and lay those cares at the feet of the cross. Shift your focus to the Lord and when you feel yourself going back into a state of worry, just say his name. Call on his presence to shift your focus and get back to the place where His peace dwells, and where your help comes from. There is where you will find all of your heart’s desires fulfilled, in His presence.