Focusing on God: Be Still or Be Distracted

Focusing on God: Be Still or Be Distracted

The enemy uses distractions to keep us from focusing on God, so set your eyes on Jesus and be still in his presence to maintain your focus.

The Opposite of Focusing on God: Being Distracted

I was gently reminded about a trip I took to New City with a wonderful family and some friends over 25 years ago.  We planned to do several things during the trip, including a visit to the Statue of Liberty. I was incredibly excited to see the view of New York City from the top of the statue.

As we started climbing the steps, I had felt something that I had never felt before.

I remember the narrow stairs were dark, and there was plexiglass on the side of the stairs. We walked up about a flight of stairs, and I turned around and said there was no way I was going to the top.  I had never experienced intense fear or claustrophobia until that point in my life. Those intense feelings distracted me from taking one more step to my focus goal: to see New York City from the top of the Statue of Liberty.

I started that day with a focus on climbing to the top of the Statue of Liberty, and within seconds fear distracted me from my focus. I was no longer pursuing my goal.

Fear is not the only strategy that the enemy uses to distract us from focusing on God.  I could make a never-ending list of distractions, such as business, events, self-love, social media, relationships, gossip, negative self-talk, work, money, etc.

Whatever the distraction, set your eyes on Jesus and keep focusing on God.

What does the Bible say about focusing on God?

What does the Bible say about focusing on God? Peter gives us a Biblical example of focusing on God and the impact of distraction.

Peter had the most amazing opportunity to keep his focus on Jesus. The disciples went ahead of Jesus by boat, and Matthew 14:24 says that the boat was “battered by the waves, far from land, for the wind was against them.” Despite this predicament, Jesus walked on water towards the boat.  The disciples believed he was a ghost, but Jesus calmed them with his voice.

Matthew 14:28-30 NRSV says, “Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.  But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

When Peter climbed out of the boat, he kept focusing on Jesus, but then fear came to distract him when the wind became fierce. Peter became afraid and lost his focus on Jesus.  The only reason Peter sank was because of fear, not because of the fierce winds or intense waves.

“…Lord, save me!”—Matthew 14:30 NRSV

Now is the time for each of us to turn our eyes away from fear and what is happening in our world and our lives and turn our eyes to focus on Jesus.  Believing that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to redeem us from our sins is the key to be saved.

“…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”—Acts 16:31 NRSV

“because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”—Romans 10:9 NRSV

I encourage you to open your heart to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and resurrected three days later to save you from eternal death.

Then, call someone you know who is already a believer in Jesus and tell them that you also believe in Jesus as the Son of God.  It is essential to find others to read and study the Bible, pray with, fellowship with, and grow in the faith journey. It is also important to set your eyes on Jesus and keep focusing on God.

Focusing on God: Be Still and Set Your Eyes on Jesus

After church one Sunday, our family discussed knowing how God finds joy in you.  We had these great answers, but my son nailed it when he said that God finds joy when we are still in his presence.  Then, my daughter said that she has been thinking that she needs to stop having distractions and start focusing on God…by being still in God’s presence.

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.” Psalms 37:7

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”–Psalms 46:10 NRSV

To be still in God’s presence, ask His Son, Jesus Christ, to come and meet with you. Then, start with sitting still for a few minutes and focusing on God.  Trust me, you will be blessed!

Bible verses about Focusing on God: Psalms 123

One of the most popular Bible verses about focusing on God is Psalms 123.

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” ~ Psalms123:1-2 NIV

God loves you very much and wants to show you his mercy, so get rid of distractions. Then, set your eyes on Jesus and keep focusing on God.

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