Some mornings I get up and have to put drops in my eyes. They have gotten dry during the night and it becomes hard to focus. The drops do the trick and after a few blinks I begin to see things clearly.
What helps you focus at the beginning of each day?
For me it’s rising to the quiet of the house, brewing coffee and taking time to listen to the Holy Spirit. It hasn’t always been that way but now it has become my strength and the purpose for my life.
I remember those time when my world was selfishly all about me, doing what I wanted without any guidance from the Father. “I could handle this. I didn’t need any outside help.” I never really thought to ask for His help or His direction. I just got up and ran things my way. Oh, I was so wrong, so very wrong.
“At noon the whole country became dark. The darkness continued for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” This means “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?” Matthew 27:45-46 ERV
Jesus spent his entire earthly stay focusing on the Father, doing the Father’s will and bringing glory to Him. Now in the darkness Jesus knew that He had been forsaken or left alone! This broke Jesus’ heart.
God the Father had to turn His focus away from Jesus, his beloved Son, to us so that Jesus could pay the penalty for our sin on the cross. At that time the Father put us and our relationship ahead of His love for Jesus. We became His primary focus.
“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 ERV
“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:20 ERV
The experience of that separation from the Father was almost unbearable to Jesus. He paid the supreme sacrifice. Not only was the Father’s focus on us and the relationship we can have with Him but it was also what Jesus was focusing on.
“Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God. 3 Sinful men spoke words of hate against Christ. He was willing to take such shame from sinners. Think of this so you will not get tired and give up.” Hebrews 12:2-3 NLV
Whether your quiet time is first thing in the morning or another time during the day stop and think what it cost for you to have this wonderful privledge of coming into the Father’s presence. Make it your focus! Don’t take it for granted.
“May you have loving-favor and peace from Jesus Christ Who is faithful in telling the truth. Jesus Christ is the first to be raised from the dead. He is the head over all the kings of the earth. He is the One Who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood. 6 Christ has made us a holy nation of religious leaders who can go to His God and Father. He is the One to receive honor and power forever! Let it be so.” Revelation 1:5-6 NLV
This amazing relationship is available to all, to whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He is worthy of our focused attention – He is worthy of it all!