There hasn’t been a day since I was in the fifth grade that I didn’t realize the importance of being able to focus.
That’s when it became obvious that I wasn’t seeing correctly. Things were blurry, very blurry. As I sat on the piano bench, I would lean in so the notes on the page would come into focus. My teacher told Mom that she thought I was having a hard time seeing what was written on the black board. I found myself sitting closer to the TV to see my favorite shows.
Mom took me to the optometrist, and I was assessed with myopia; I was near-sighted, and it was pretty bad. I remember the first day I went to school wearing glasses – it was horrible. I thought they were pretty, but they were thick and heavy and made me look awkward. It was bad enough that I was a band geek but now I had glasses to boot. I remember being so self-conscious.
But I could see and eventually that outweighed the negatives. One of the first things I do each morning is put on my glasses (if I’m not wearing my contacts). I never take seeing clearly for granted.
I guess that’s why I start each morning with prayer time and reading my Bible, I like having things focused properly. It’s not a one-time event, focus once and forget it – no, it’s a daily practice. I need to keep focused on what the Lord says about me and to me.
I have several places in my Bible that I read each morning. They set the tone for the day. I hope you will focus on one of them with me this morning.
“With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name! 2 With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4 and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle. 6 For all who are mistreated, the Lord brings justice…The Lord is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails. 9 The Lord won’t always be angry and point out our sins; 10 he doesn’t punish us as our sins deserve. 11 How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth!” Psalm 103:1-6, 8-11 CEV
You may be spiritually near-sighted, only seeing what’s closest to you and not able to get the whole picture clearly or you may be spiritually far-sighted, only seeing heaven in the sweet by and by and missing the Lord’s love and provision for each day.
Get your eyes checked and your vision corrected; continue to focus on God’s amazing love and the power of His word.