Focus

"I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.  We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal."

Psalm 123: 1-2

This is one of those scriptures that kind of hits you in the face like ice cold water on a hot summer day.

I mean, here I have been, trying to get my head on straight after nearly ten years of marriage, five kids, and 18 months of school for my husband.  I've been walking along, calling on God when things get tough... or sometimes when I feel lonely...  and then I see this: "as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal."

Do you see that?

"for the slightest signal"

That's pretty intense- especially for someone with ADD.

I don't think I've ever focused on anything that hard- especially not on God.  It's not that I don't want to- it's that there are so many distractions, so many "things" that are all pulling for my attention and often I allow my focus to drift from one thing to another.   

But Hebrews 12:1-2 in The Message says:

"Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

Don't you just love The Message?   I know I thought of about 20 different teaching topics when I read this, but that's another blog.  Another time.


Keeping it simple for a change.  Leaving this one for you to think on...


No Longer I,


The Real Life Mom.