Focused On God, Not On The World

Focused on God, Not on the World

Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

1 John 2:15 (THE MESSAGE)

Do you consider yourself “worldly”? If you drive a car, have a phone, and enjoy modern conveniences you are—at least according to the Amish. They believe that worldly things take our time and attention away from godly things. When we’re driving in our cars, we’re not spending time at home. When we’re talking on the phone, we’re not talking to the people who are with us. When we’re focused on gadgets, we can miss the opportunity to connect with others in our community.

How can we live in the world without loving the world? It all comes down to focus. Everyone has focus. But the question is, Are you focused on getting more, having more “things,” or are you focused on using all that you have to glorify God? Are you making Him the main focus of your life and your days?

“Life works better when we know how to glance at things but gaze at God,” writes Welsh minister and author Selwyn Hughes. “Seeing Him clearly will enable us to see all other things clearly.”

The first Anabaptists chose to change their lifestyles in order to draw closer to God. Even though they faced persecution, what they chose to focus on continued for generations. And that’s really the point, isn’t it? The world is always changing, but God never changes. There will be new cars, new phones, and new gadgets every year, but as Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Here’s something you may want to consider: Are you worldly focused, or are you heavenly focused? As you focus on the second part of that question, the first part will begin to take care of itself.

Dear heavenly Father, please cleanse my mind and heart of the concerns this world uses to try to trap me. Instead turn my mind—my focus—to You.