THE FOCUS

(Guest Post by: Barbara Reffey) Blogmas Day Five

The snowflakes are falling, blanketing our yards with clean, white piles of pleasure for all you snow lovers. Our warm, cozy homes are filled with aromas of cookies baking. Peppermint scents are lofting to our nostrils to enliven our minds to delicious candies. Awwwww it is Christmas time!

Stop, you say, that idealist picture doesn’t describe my month of December. Guess what? It doesn’t describe mine either. No, I’m afraid in real life our FOCUS becomes much different. So let us explore together the PF’s and GF’s of Christmas.

PF#1 (Problem Focus)

We all have them: Problems. We live in a sin sick world, bombarded daily with hurts from others, unkind words, false accusations, and misunderstandings. We are faced with physical and emotional sicknesses. You have your list going through your head right now! How do I know? Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world you will have tribulations. Remember David in I Samuel 17? He had a big problem named Goliath. He was a giant, a bully, a man who mocked David’s God. Now that was a problem.

I think you will agree with me when I say that when we start to focus on our problems, our lives fall apart.

Stop! Think long and hard right now. Do you have a PF (Problem Focus) going on right now?  Do you seem to be spiraling out of control emotionally and the challenges of your life are drowning you?

Time to repent. Tell God you are sorry for not trusting HIM with your problems. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord, don’t lean on your own understanding.” I love when David was GF (God Focused). As he faced his giant in I Samuel 17:45 -47, he said the battle is the Lord’s! Take a few minutes and read the short book of Philippians, written by a great friend of mine while in prison. That will bring GF (God Focus). God’s Word is powerful, sharper than a double-edged sword.” (Heb 4:12)              

PF#2 (Problem Focus)  

Self. The big I. The big ME. I must admit this focus can trip me up every time. Daily challenges come and I say, “I am so weak, I can’t overcome that temptation, I am such a failure with my past, I can never be used of God, or look at MY to do list. There is no time to pray or read the Word.” The PF of Self raises its ugly head.

Stop and repent. Read Romans 8. Romans 8:5 CEV says, “People who are ruled by their desires, thinking only of themselves, need to humbly and sincerely seek more of God’s Holy Spirit to rule in your life.” Romans 5:9 says, “You are no longer ruled by your desires but by God’s Spirit who lives in you.” That is the GF.

I ask you to please begin each day this holiday season alone in the presence of our heavenly Father. Focus on the Lord. Focus on His attributes, and His precious Word to you. Ask Him to open up your way as you journey through your day with the Prince of Peace beside you. Grab hold of HIS loving, caring, hand and declare your total dependence on Him. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised. Today is your day of God Focus. Trust Him!

“I am not my own. I have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.”  (I Corinthians 6:20)

In conclusion, we all have a choice to make today. What will your FOCUS be?

Your Goliaths – The biggest problem you are facing?

Your Self – Your weaknesses, limitations, negative feelings?

OR

Your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, His power, His strength, His peace, His goodness?

Please join me and focus on the latter this Christmas season!