Your Daily Devotional for August 28, 2006

 

August 28, 2006

 

Staying Focused

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 

Philippians 4:13

Golf professional Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, ‘Congratulations.’ I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters.”

When life gets overwhelming, it is hard to stay focused. Sometimes, we don’t even realize we have lost focus on what really matters! What are you focused on? Do you seek to please God in all that you do? Is your main goal throughout the day to serve and honor Him?

 

We must not think we need to stay focused on Him in our own strength, because we will never be able to do it, but God is good in providing help for us! He has an unlimited source of power that He offers His children if we ask! Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” God promises that whatever we ask of Him, if we believe, He will give it to us! What a great promise!

 

We know we need God’s power to stay focused on Him, but where do we get that power? We get it through studying and memorizing His Word. By doing this, we can fight off temptations to stray from being focused on Him. Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” We must focus on His Word to help keep our lives lined up with His will for us.

 

We also must focus on doing good and not just merely being good. Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Just trying to be a good person is frustrating because our sin nature makes it impossible to be good on our own. We must also be doing good from a sincere heart and serving the Lord if we hope to stay focused on Him.

 

It may be difficult to stay focused throughout the day, but if we remember to ask God for His power, study His Word, and continually serve Him, He will help us. God wants us to stay focused on Him so He provided the resources necessary! All we must do is take His help and use it in our lives! What are you focusing on today? Do you need to change your focus back to Him?

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