Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

It seems like there isn’t enough time to accomplish all I need to accomplish, in one day. I need to learn how to focus on one thing at a time. I heard a preacher say recently, "The enemy of accomplishing one goal is another goal". He mentioned an article he read about Thomas Edison, and the creation the light bulb. Mr. Edison didn't think he was smarter than everyone else, but he maintained his focus on one thing, day in and day out, until he mastered it. He was never down about his many failures, but he said that they gave him ideas on what to try differently the next time. I thought that was so profound, considering what I'm struggling with right now. I think faith and optimism go hand and hand, and even babies fall down numerous times before they’re able balance themselves and walk. If you're in the process of soul searching, and making some life changes, take the one thing that interest you the most, and focus on that, until you perfect it, then move on to the next thing. I hope this helps someone other than me, I write by the Spirit so someone needs to hear it. Enjoy your evening, and be blessed family!

Today's scriptures are about keeping our focus on the things above. Focus seems to be the new theme in my life lately, because I know firsthand, that when I lose focus, calamity breaks loose. If you're anything like me, which I think most people are, you have to make a conscious effort to stay focused on the task at hand. To live like Jesus requires complete focus on God, and the Kingdom of Heaven. If we aren't focused, we'll easily be swayed by evil. Remember Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt. 7:13-14) This is reminds me of the famous circus act, the tight rope. In order to avoid distractions, while walking on this thin piece of rope, many feet in the air, the tight rope walker must maintain a point of focus. If he takes his eyes off of that focal point, he'll fall. He must have confidence in his ability to keep his balance, as well as in the apparatus he works with. When we initially start on our faith walk with God, that narrow path Jesus was talking about, is similar to a tight rope. The distractions of the world are many, and if we lose our focus on the Kingdom of God, we will backslide. As we grow, it gets easier and easier to stay that path. In order to maintain a good level of focus, we must develop discipline. After all you can't have focus without discipline. Jesus constantly preached about denying yourself, and following Him. After a long days work, we don't always want to come home and read the bible, or spend time in prayer and meditation, because we're tired. On Sunday mornings, after a long Saturday, we don't always want to get up and go to Church, we’d rather sleep in. When someone has hurts us, we don't always feel like turning the other cheek, we want to hurt them in return. Christianity isn't all about blessings and gifts, it requires real work. To focus on anything requires real work, let alone trying to be a disciple of Christ. Did you know that you're a Disciple? Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19). Think about the twelve who walked with Him, and the amount of dedication, discipline, and focus they showed. Read any book in the New Testament and learn the ways of John, Peter, Luke, Judas, Stephen, Paul, and the others. All of these men served Jesus up until the day they took their last breath; well after Jesus went on to sit at the right hand of God. They never took their focus off of Heaven, which allowed them to endure life, lead, and help save so many souls. Their lives have an impact on each of us today, and will continue, way after us. That couldn't have happened had they took their focus off of God. We should always keep in mind that this life is temporary, and we will pass on some day, so we're not only working to enjoy life here on earth, but for all eternity. When we look at the people who are not saved, their lives may seem glamorous and fun, but in the end they're empty and lost. It’s our job to help get them on the right path, but we can’t if we’re not focused, it’s like “the blind leading the blind”. It's written: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23: 17-18) I'm begging you to take some time and reevaluate what's most important in your life. If you wrote a list of your life's goals, where would God fall on that list? If God isn't number one then you need to change your focus. The only way to do that is by Salvation through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus you receive the Holy Spirit, and when you focus on His words, and following His lead, you're on the right path. My favorite verses today are: We faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
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I love you!