Focus on Me

The world tells us to focus on what we want so that we can succeed. The Lord tells us to focus on Him, and Him alone. 

I needed that thing so badly. It was really important to me.

I would cry to the Lord day and night, and I knew He could hear me.

Morning after morning would come, and I still had not received it.

I began to focus more on my need,

To the point that I believed that God did not care because He was not answering me.

What a horrible place to be!

Interestingly, at the back of my mind, there was a little phrase that kept ringing over and over.

Focus on Me, and you will get what you need – Me

 

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV)

 

That thing that I needed so badly was gradually taking over.

I would sit down to pray, and the first thing I would think of was my need.

My prayers became an endless round of ‘I want’ and ‘I need.’

To me, God had become like my phone.

I pressed a button, expected an immediate response.

No such luck.

I needed to learn that God was and is my Source.

By the way, all this time the little phrase kept ringing at the back of my mind.

Focus on Me, and you will get all you need – Me.

 

The hard lesson of focusing on God began to take shape.

I didn’t have the thing I was asking for.

I no longer felt like He cared or that He understood.

I doubted that He was God.

How was I supposed to focus on a God who didn’t answer prayers?

I had to learn how to trust again.

I had to learn how to believe again.

I had to accept that what the Lord knew was way above what I would ever know.

I had to learn from the One who knows it all.

Focus on me, and you will get all you need – Me.

 

Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)

 

I did it! I was now able to fix my eyes on Him.

I was now able to trust Him.

That exciting feeling didn’t last forever, though,

Because just as I was getting comfortable,

A memory of unanswered prayer drifted back into my mind.

I was distracted.

I lost hope.

 

Then it hit me,

I had shifted my focus from Someone who was trustworthy

To something that could not be relied on,

In just a split second!

I quickly turned my focus back to Jesus,

And soon I was at peace.

And my unanswered prayer was forgotten.

I learnt a hard lesson there.

Distraction turned me away from Jesus,

While focusing on the Lord led me to His loving arms.

“Focus on Me, and you will get all you need – Me.”

 

Those words have rung in my mind all week.

Where is my focus?

What has taken over my mind and heart?

Most importantly, am I focusing on God so I can receive from Him?

 

Lord, help me to focus on You so I can know You better.

Help me to fix my eyes on You and You alone.

Give me the desire to spend time with You,

Not because of what I will receive

But so that I may enjoy your sweet fellowship.

And if I lose track, please speak these quiet words into my Sprit.

“Focus on Me, and you will get all you need – Me.”

So that I may focus fully on you.

 

Romans 12:2a “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (NIV)

 

 

 

Hi, friends! How hard it is to remain focused on the Lord when there is so much else to do, isn’t it? My prayer is that we would all learn to focus on the Lord, enjoying His presence and learning from Him. What thoughts do you have on focusing on the Lord? Please share them below, and remember to share this article with a friend. Have a great week ahead!