Daily Devotions

Do you ever find your mind wondering or drifting off into one thought that leads to another and disturbs your focus from that which should be holding our attention? For over 160 times Paul directs and redirects our attention to what is the essentials of faith.  In essence, what Paul is teaching the church is that when the Spirit of God grabs our attention so unmistakably, we should listen.

Paul writing to Timothy said, “Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.” (1 Timothy 4:15)

I recently read that the very essence of staying focused is the avoidance of distractions. The culprit is not the obvious, but the subtle. The diversions we most easily rationalise are the most dangerous.

A little boy was told by his father to wait on a corner by a department store, while the father had a tire changed on his car. It turned out that the car required more attention than the man had anticipated, and it took over an hour.

The father anxiously hurried back to get his little boy, and found the little fellow right where he had told him to stay. He said to the boy, "Did you think your daddy had forgotten about you?" "Oh, no," was the reply, accompanied by a smile of perfect trust, "I knew you would come just as soon as you could. I wasn't a bit worried. I stayed where you told me, and waited, and watched for you."

Isaiah 26 has the words, “People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.” (The Message)

Father, thank You that there is a place in my mind where I can stay my thoughts on You and abide in peace. Help me to declutter my mind of all the negative thoughts that have gotten in. I will do my part to stay in faith and let You step in and do Your part. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.