Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brothers, partners in a heavenly calling, keep your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.”

A few years ago, I was in yoga class practicing a balancing pose. Normally I find a focal point on the wall to help maintain my balance. For some reason, I became fixated on a crazy design on someone’s shirt in front of me. That person fell, and, of course, I lost my balance as well.  I felt the Lord say gently to me, “If your focus is on man, you will fall.” I literally laughed out loud!

Drishti is a yoga term which means focus or concentration.  It not only refers to focus while you are holding a posture in yoga, but also refers to focus when you are off the mat. Part of what originally drew me to yoga was the physical practice and its similarity to dance. As a former dancer in my younger years, I was familiar with finding a focal point during any move that required balance.

After I had been practicing yoga for about 15 years, yoga became much more than physical for me. The stress of walking through two very difficult seasons was weighing heavily on me.  I was not managing my stress in a healthy way, and it was taking a toll on me physically, mentally, and spiritually. I was diligent about seeking my quiet time almost every day and studying the Bible, but I was still struggling. My mat became my safe place, my sanctuary. Sometimes I would just take my mat in my back yard and sit or pray; other times I would add a hard physical, sweaty practice to get rid of my stress.

When we make it a habit to take time to focus on sitting in God’s presence, when the storms come, we are more likely to go to Him instead of falling apart. A daily practice of connecting with God, withdrawing temporarily from the noise and confusion of the outside world, gives us a lifeline. What is your first reaction in times of stress? Remember the old saying, “Run to the throne, not the phone!”

The word “habit” comes from the Latin “habitus” meaning “condition or appearance.” Our habits are what get us through challenging times because we always default to our habits under stress.

Jonah 2:7 “When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went to you in your holy Temple.”

Forget the Past

In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul said, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I think here Paul is saying not to get stuck in the past so we can move forward. Notice I did not say move on. There is a difference. The past can be painful, and it can be a great teacher. We don’t always forget the past, but we don’t want to live there. Reliving past hurts and mistakes can hinder us from moving forward and living successful lives. The past is over, and nothing can change what happened yesterday.

“When we stretch back and try to make sense of all that happened in the past, we are bound to be frustrated. Constantly replaying, reviewing, and rewinding, we build scenarios for what might have been. It’s like trying to walk forward while looking backward. We think, if only I had done this or that, things would be different. Yes, it is true…but you can never reach back and change it. You can spend your whole life figuring out why you messed up and still be messed up once you’ve figured it out.” – Lisa Bevere

Even your past victories are gone. I once knew a guy who was in his late 30’s who constantly talked about his college football days. It is great to remember great times in the past, but this guy was so stuck in his college memories that he could not seem to thrive in his present life. If we are living in the past, we are robbing ourselves of the precious present.

I’ve Got This

Sometimes our focus on our circumstances can be a symptom of our wanting to be in control. We keep looking for ways we can change things instead of letting God be in control. The opposite of faith is not fear; it is control.  In a Jesus Calling devotional, it states, “Don’t seek to be self-sufficient and do things without my help.  Learn to rely on me in every situation.  This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently.” We fear the unknown; we fear letting go and totally surrendering to God’s plan. We want to know the how and the why, but that’s not the same as knowing the WHO. Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes…”

He Is Waiting

God is not mad at you; he is waiting for you. We were created for a relationship with Him. He delights in you!

“The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

REFLECTION:

• How much time are you spending in God’s presence?
• Do you respond to stress and sadness by going to God, or do you self-medicate and distract yourself?

#focus #habits #jesusfirst