Focus

Take a close look at these pictures: 

What do you see ?



Do you see the old man and the old woman?
Do you see the young woman and the guitar player?





Do you see the beautiful woman?
Do you see the saxaphone player?



At all times, no matter what we are going through, there is something we can focus on that can change our entire perspective and attitude. Did Christ not say, ‘Whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report…think on these things?’ (Phil 4:8) If he was not going to be faithful to provide those other ‘things’ for us to focus on, he would not have instructed us to do so.

As in the pictures above, some things may grab our attention, but others are harder to see.  Does that mean they aren't there?  No, it just means we aren't looking for them (or at them!)

Mat 14:22 to 33 says:

And immediately He made the disciples get into the boat, and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already many stadia away from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"

Simply because the Lord supplies good things for us to focus on, does not mean that we do not play a part also. We must exercise focus. It does not just happen. We must exercise it and develop it as a spiritual muscle. It is easy to LOOK at something, like Peter looked at Christ when he stepped out of the boat. It is a harder thing—a learned thing—to FOCUS on Christ and to continue on the water. His hand is always out there, but sometimes it is one step away and other times it is four steps away. We just have faith and keep our focus.

In times of serious battle or struggle, it is almost easier to maintain our focus. Because everything is so intense, we are in that ‘zone.’ I do pause and wonder, though, how many small confrontations we lose in the mundane, everyday tedium of our lives because we fail to hold our focus? Right now—what do you see?

(Thanks to Rhonda Benz - July WOH - for her insight!!)