Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Hello again, it’s been awhile since my last post. For awhile it’s been challenging to hear from God what He wants me to share with you. This weekend the Holy Spirit showed me the “writer’s block” I was experiencing was due to distractions I allowed to consume my time and mind. In a word, the Holy Spirit told me to FOCUS on God!

In obedience, FOCUS will be our theme this week, beginning with focused affection.

Today’s scripture, Colossians 3:1-2 (KJV) exhorts…
[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Consider…
Oxford Languages defines a distraction as a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.

Sometimes I feel like Dug the talking dog from the movie ‘Up’. Dug would be in the middle of a profound statement, and see a squirrel and completely forget what he was saying. Far too often, I find myself saying ‘squirrel’ in the middle of focusing on God.

My current top three squirrels are…

• My favorite football team
• Television crime shows
• Financial responsibilities

Now before you judge me, let me remind you that God identified David as a man after His heart, yet he was distracted by another man’s wife.

The Lord used David’s testimony to show me that distractions, like temptations, are not the focus issue, but it’s the life that I give them instead of intentionally living for Him.

He used James 1:14-15 (NLT) to explain…
[14] Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. [15] These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

The Holy Spirit also showed me that God used David’s distraction for His purposes, because Jesus came from the union of David and Bathsheba.

This let’s me know God can use our distractions for His glory too.

Despite my obsession over the trivial temporal things mentioned above, the Holy Spirit had an old ‘Promise Keeper’ buddy of mine invite me to join a 40 day Lent Bible plan with him, his family and my best friend Ken.

The disappointing thing is that I was initially hesitant about participating in this focused plan of ‘Lent, A Journey Through John & Psalms’ by ‘Through the Word’ ministries. But here’s how God’s graceful compassion gently got me back on track to focusing on Him. My wife was invited, independently, by my sister-in-Christ Tambria to the same plan with a group of Kingdom focused women.

So for the last three weeks the first thing I do when I wake up is listen to and comment on the day’s devotion. The second thing I do is listen to the ‘Our Daily Bread’ (ODB) devotional. Both of these devotionals set my mind on God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness first thing daily. (Matthew 6:33)

Interestingly, today’s ODB focus verse was Romans 12:11 (NIV), which exhorts…
[11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

It’s as if the Holy Spirit is emphasizing distractions don’t justify my inaction.

This makes me think of another scripture, 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV), which exhorts…
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Okay the picture is becoming clearer, focus isn’t just about concentration, it’s also about living according to my consecration.

You see Oxford Languages defines consecrate as, make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.

And just yesterday I heard a preacher cite 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT), which says…
[15] He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

This is what my wife often reminds me, Christ died for me to live for Him!

Speaking of my wife, the Holy Spirit doubled down on this consecration awareness by reminding me that Ephesians 5:25-27 (NLT) says…
[25] For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her [26] to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. [27] He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

Christ loved me and gave His life for me for a purpose. He wanted to make me…

• Holy or consecrated for His purposes
• Clean
• Washed

…to perfect me for eternity with Him.

This encourages me that my distractions don’t distract God from making me who He wants me to be.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit reminded me that Philippians 2:13 (NLT) encourages…
[13] For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Eureka, that’s it, setting my affection on Christ begins with being risen with Him.

Setting my affection on things above requires me to remember Romans 6:4-6 (NLT)…
[4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. [5] Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. [6] We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Okay I see it now, I have to get my desire right to set my affection right.

To that end, I will close in harmony with Hillsong Worship’s song that says…

This is my desire to honor You
Lord, with all my heart, I worship You
All I have within me, I give You praise
All that I adore is in You

Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul, I live for You alone
Every breath that I take, every moment I’m awake
Lord, have Your way in me

Set or place your affection on God by seeking and serving Him despite the distractions.

Today’s song is…
One Pure And Holy Passion

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)