Day 21 of 31: Pray for Focus

Squirrel! There's really no other word that captures the idea of distraction better than the character Dug in the movie, "UP." He is tuned into a moment or a person and then a squirrel draws his attention away. It's such a perfect picture that sometimes in meetings at the church when we get off track.

Focus is one of the words I felt very strongly about when I started this blog. There are so many agendas and activities vying for our attention, by entertaining them we can drift degrees off course. Ultimately, the degrees become miles and before we know it we're hopelessly lost and we don't even know it. 

Not all of the distractions are huge. Some are small but powerful. Even now as I am sick as a dog my coughing and fuzzy brain are trying to distract me away from the commitment I made God regarding this blog.   

So today we pray for those who have lost focus. Satan has brought something across their path that has changed their course- an inch, a degree, a mile or more. Like Peter, their eyes are on the waves.

Matthew 14:26-30 "Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Reflection: Who do you know who has lost their way? They were on track, and then got their eyes off Christ? Who is allowing small distractions to take them off course? Think of this person/these people when you say or sing the lyrics to this old hymn:

_________________, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face                                                           And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of his glory and grace."

Prayer: Dear Father, Today we pray for your children who have lost focus. They have taken their eyes off of Christ, who sustains us. As Christ did with Peter, we pray that his loving hand will reach out or down and lift them up and get them back on course. In Hebrews, Your Word encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. May all have blinders to the distractions they create in their lives, whether creating them themselves, brought by Satan, or ones they allow because they don't know how dangerous the distractions can be. Give them the focus they need to return to you and fulfill their purpose. In Jesus name, Amen.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,

pray for focus

distraction