The Power Of Your Focus - The One Year Salt and Light Devotional

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2, ESV)

THE DIRECTION OF OUR GAZE is transforming; Paul has assured us of that, promising that as we look at the Lord with unveiled faces, we will become more and more like him (2 Corinthians 3:18). Just as young athletes take on the mannerisms of their favorite ballplayers and young music lovers sing the songs of their favorite stars, we will grow in the direction of our loves.

We will also grow in the direction of our preoccupations, and that’s where the problems begin. Our hardships and challenges draw our attention away from God and his answers. We become sharply focused on the negatives in our lives—the missed opportunities, the problems that need to be fixed, the one discouraging comment in a chorus of encouraging voices, the one troublesome grade on a child’s otherwise stellar report card, the one health or financial problem interrupting our general well-being. But few ever overcome debt by staring at it, recover from a sickness by dwelling on it, or resolve relational issues by magnifying them. Neither do we overcome sin by directing all our attention and efforts against it. No, we overcome our challenges by focusing on solutions, being grateful for the good, and, as David once wrote, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple (Psalm 27:4, NIV). A downward gaze only imprisons us; it’s the upward gaze that saves us. We have to choose what to magnify in our lives.

For all our criticisms of positive thinking, the Bible encourages us to think positively by focusing on God and his goodness. (The book of Philippians is a virtual field manual in positive thinking, for example.) Why is this so? Because hope is true, and discouragement isn’t. Faith is effective, and negativity is futile—and a really bad testimony. Our spiritual eyes are powerful. When they are fixed on God in his dwelling, they change our own lives and many others’ as well.

{Father, I’ve been so casual about guarding my focus, yet it can change lives, including mine. Forgive me; train me; help me turn my attention toward your goodness and your promises always. Amen.