This is the beginning of a series called Focus; each letter represents a topic I’d like to further present to you. But first I want to give a background on why I think God provided this idea.

Year 2020 has been full of surprises, loaded with frustrations, and it has us wondering what will happen next. If you were like me, I was glued to or fixated on CNN, to get the latest on the presidential election results. A friend of mine put a statement on Facebook that stayed with me; it made me chuckle, but there was a ring of truth in it. She wrote of how we need to put more emphasis on God’s Word than on continually looking at election results, and I had to agree, particularly since I was guilty of all the hours I put into watching it. This begs the question of what we put our focus on. Is it on what the latest fashion pieces we feel we need to purchase, making time to binge on tv shows, or just sitting and doing nothing? Is the focus worrying about what we don’t have, or is it on being thankful for what we do have in our possession? What are you fixed on?

When we feel like we are in a battle for our lives, where is the focus? What would happen if there was a focus shift to a fixation that provides peace instead of inner conflict, that replaces depression with joy, and living life in a realm of contentment when war is breaking out all around us?

Let’s start with the first letter of Focus: F is for Fixed

Here’s an example. You may have finances, which is a good thing. You also have bills to pay, and there is not enough funds to cover them all; not so good a place to be in. So there is a decision to be made (and yes, there is a choice you can make); either a) fix your emotion on the negativity of not having enough (and going through all the unfounded scenarios of what could happen if this or that doesn’t get paid), or b) make a shift to a more firm, stable and stationary realm of what the bible says. Here is what could be applied to this situation:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

Now there is an exchange, an application has been input into the problem. Yes, the problem is real and does exist. But when that problem is given over, the person is now saying, I have this issue, but I am allowing my faith to take over. Not my fear, not my trying to handle it and solve it. God, you have said I will not have need of anything, and You will supply my every need, according to the riches You have! When we focus on God, and exercise our faith in Him, the peace that mental understanding cannot explain enters our brain, and the conflict dies down. I can only write this because I have given this a try, and I can vouch for the conclusion: It works!

I suggest to you to give this a try. Here are some suggestions:

• choose a verse that applies to your situation, like the ones listed above, though there are many others that will suffice.
  • rewrite the verse, not changing the meaning, but written in a way that you can understand. For example, Psalm 23:1 could be rewritten as Because the Lord is my Guide, I have want of nothing.
    • What does this verse mean further for your situation?
    • Meditate on this verse throughout the next few days meaning, reflect on it, shift your thoughts on it in such a way that you no longer worry about the issue of paying bills (or whatever the problem may be), but instead reflect on what you read: because of God, you will have no want of anything.

When the focus is shifted or fixed elsewhere to what is deemed enriching, when the concentration is on One who welcomes problems, there is a freeness that will help us on our everyday journey. Be strengthenized, and give yourself an F!

Next: Going to Your Only…