The prompt this week is ‘focus‘. As I’ve alluded to in past posts I have trouble with focus sometimes. I’m like that dog in the sweet movie Up…I can be rolling along intent on getting something done, things progressing wonderfully, and all of a sudden like it’s ‘squirrel!!!’ Then I’m off and running in the opposite direction – working on something totally different. My husband finds it maddening because I have several unfinished projects all over the house. Personally, I think it makes life interesting.
The only time it really bothers me is when I’m trying to do my Bible devotions. I have a hard time focusing on things I’m reading and hearing what God has to say when I’ve got a bunch of unfinished stuff that needs to be done. I tend to rush through them so I can get back to other stuff. That’s no good at all. When I do that I miss out.
See, God wants us to slow down and focus on what He has for us. When we open up His Word and take our time we can be blessed, we can catch stuff we didn’t know already, and we can find answers to prayer. It’s easier to be in tune with our Father when our focus is right where it should be…on Him.
***As an aside to this little post I woke up this morning thinking about what I said, and the words to a beautiful hymn that we sing at church kept coming to mind. I feel led to include them here. Not sure if they’re for someone else who might read this or maybe even just for me – but here goes:
~~~ Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus ~~~
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are!
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Hi Neighbor! I’m in the 8 spot tonight! We wrote in similar veins. “Squirrel” is a standing joke in our home, and I’m not the only one, lol.
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Oh no way, girlfriend…you are most certainly not the only one.
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I’ve been lost in my focus lately, and need to get back to Him!
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I’m right there with you. It’s quite the task sometimes. Thanks so much for stopping by.
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Love the comparison to the dog. I am that way.
Too ill to try to write more. Loved the post, Lynette.
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Thank you, Andrew. Praying for you as always.
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Great reminder! Thank you for this!
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Thanks so much for taking the time to come by and read.
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I love that hymn, too! So beautiful. And yes, I am so like that easily distracted dog, too.
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There is most certainly a lot of that dog in us all it would seem. Thanks for coming by, Amy.
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So true God want us to slow down and focus on Him. He has blessings to offer.
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He sure does, doesn’t He, Mary? His blessings far outshine any other prize. Thanks for dropping in,
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i loved this lynette:) i can so identify with the lack of focus at times! i was encouraged a few years back to not be totally disheartened by distractions when praying. sometimes they are divine distractions that call us to pray for someone or some special issue. since then, i’ve discovered it is often true! it hs helped me immensely.
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Thanks for your advice, Martha. I will most certainly keep it in mind. So glad you came by.
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Slowing down creates a conflict within me because I have to choose to let go of something I want or feel I have to do. But focus on the Father helps me see what is truly important and let go–if my heart is willing.
Good reminder. And I am glad you included the hymn.
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I love the words to that song. They are uplifting to my soul. So glad you visited, Cheryl.
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What a beautiful hymn–it’s one of my favorites (and I can totally relate to the dog in UP 😉 ).
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Thanks so much for coming by, Anita. Hope all is well with you and your family.
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I can so relate to this post, Lynette. Life has a way of distracting us, doesn’t it? I used to be able to concentrate a lot better before I had M.E, but now I have a distinctly foggy, butterfly mind! Yet the benefits and blessings of focussing more intentionally and closely on God and His word are well worth the effort it takes. Thank you for sharing the words to a favourite hymn of mine. It’s a beautiful reminder of where our focus should be. Bless you!
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I’m not sure what the excuse for my foggy mind would be, but I sure have one. Very scattered sometimes. So glad you came by, Joy.
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Hi there! I loved your whole post. 🙂 But, one sentence really spoke to my heart – “See, God wants us to slow down and focus on what He has for us.” That must be the fifth time in the last two weeks that I’ve read something along that line. I know the Lord is trying to tell me to slow down and listen and to focus. Not to chase squirrels. 😉 Thanks for the timely (and 5th) reminder. Be blessed!
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We all need those reminders daily, don’t we? If I spent half as much time focusing on God as I did the squirrels I would be a whole lot better off. 😊 So glad you came by.
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That is a beautiful hymn. And so glad in many ways that we have those hymns to really help us focus when we need a little extra help doing so.
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I love those old hymns. They have helped me through a lot of trials and heartache. Thank you for coming by.
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The only focus we need. (Welcome to the “newbie-ness” of writing brave 🙂 )
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Thanks, Jane. Although the I in no way consider myself a writer I am enjoying this sweet community. So glad you stopped in.
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🙂 my pleasure
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Well, thank Jesus you focused on what the Holy Spirit was pressing on your heart, because I think those words to the song were for me…thank you. Have been feeling so puny lately I was beginning to doubt. I love you, Lynette.
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Spring will be here before we know it. I pray you will feel better soon. Love ya.
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