How Do I Keep My Focus on God?
If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, “a land which flows with milk and honey.” Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. Numbers 14:8, 9
We live in a world of distractions. New headlines, e-mails, voicemail, texts, tweets, and podcast clamor for our attention every hour. Our smartphones and computers are constantly beeping with new information, drawing our focus to one new subject after another. We are sometimes overwhelmed by things that surround us. In this passage the people of Israel had just received a bad report and they were in a state of panic. Joshua told them they must stay focused on the Lord. They could trust that He would do exactly as He had promised.
It is so easy for us to get caught up in our circumstances and lose sight of what God has for us. We must make sure our focus stays on Him. Doing that involves four important actions.
First, we must regularly spend time with God in His Word. So often we listen to the voices around us rather than communicating with Him. Our time in the Word will always give us a better perspective.
Second, we have to remember He has a plan for us. No matter what the circumstances, He is still God and He is still in control. He is not frustrated by our circumstances.
Third, we must keep our eyes on Him. We must constantly look to Him rather than the people or events around us. That means He is our priority. We must be seeking to put Him first and give His the glory in everything that we do.
Fourth, we have to remember that He is the God who makes and keeps promises. The people of Israel continually forgot that God had made them a promise. Just as He was faithful to them, so He will be faithful to us. He has promised to sustain, protect, guide and support those who have put their trust in Christ. You can trust Him to do what He has promised!*
Lord, I live in a world that is so distracting. It is easy to focus on things that do not deserve my attention. In times of great stress and pressure, help me stay focused on what You want to do in my life. I pray I can trust You in every circumstance. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
*Mike Hamlet, Spartanburg, SC