Friday Fight 188: Focus or Fatalities

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF188.

How many of us work in fields like construction or medicine, where if our focus wavers, it can have detrimental consequences? In these jobs, losing focus can cause us to miss something that hasn't been secured appropriately, and the object crashes to the ground, causing injuries and possibly even fatalities. In the medical field, not focusing on a patient can cause a missed test result or symptom, which could lead to a life-changing diagnosis. Our spiritual lives can be like this, too.

Focus or Fatalities:

One of the ways we can keep our mindset and focus healthy is to look at where we apply most of our attention throughout the day. When we are at work, are we present? Our attention during this time should be on our job and the tasks we need to complete. At home, if we are present, our focal points are family, dinner, homework, kids, etc. The same applies to our prayer time and church; we concentrate on God and the Holy Spirit, what is being spoken to or for us, and how to apply it to our lives.

So what happens when we allow our minds to drift to other places and become distracted by other things at work, home, or church? What are we missing? It may not be fatal, as previously mentioned, but what happens in our minds? When at home and distracted, our loved ones may feel unimportant and neglected. Being distracted at work can cause immeasurable damage in many ways. It may not be immediate, like in some occupations, its effects will be felt over time.

Let's unpack these a little more. If we experience repeated distractions at work, whatever it is can lead to mistakes and dissension amongst coworkers. If our thoughts are consumed by negativity, this adds to the chaos. One of the ways people end up struggling with anxiety or depression, even seasonally, is the constant bombardment of negative thoughts that captivate our minds. This deception could cause us to obsessively focus and worry about something because our minds are not clear and present. Not being present can mean delays in completing tasks and being so overwhelmed that we are constantly tired. This inability to focus can lead to self-sabotage and words of discouragement from ourselves or others. Being "scattered brain" is usually not said in a positive light, whether it's said about ourselves or we hear it from others.

If this is a familiar pattern, we are likely missing valuable things at work and home, but most importantly, what are we missing from God? What is He trying to place on our hearts that we cannot understand because of the chaotic noise and altered focus? This process is not a physical fatality but can lead to a spiritual one. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Our inability to recognize that our focus is compromised means we are probably unaware that our spiritual focus is also slowly diminishing.

This week, let's focus on what God has placed before us and not allow ourselves to have our attention diverted, robbing us of His intent. Each day is a gift to be recognized with our awareness of being content and displaying our gratitude. In trusting God, we can be freed of the bombardment of fear, worrying, or our list of things to do. Instead, experience the fullness of God's peace and those around us. When our focus starts to break, let's take a minute and ask God to calm our minds and fears and watch Him work in our lives.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Church