Sunday, August 26, 2012

Focus Scattered Mind On God

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:10

It’s all about priorities. That’s what I tell myself anyway. But truthfully, just between us, most days my mind is so scattered from the overflow of tasks that it’s a wonder I ever manage to get anything done. Do you know what I’m talking about?

I’ve never been particularly coordinated and yet I find myself juggling too many things anyway. I keep telling myself to hang on. One day I’ll get a day off. I have to laugh at that. I’ve been saying it for years and I’m not sure a day off is any closer now that it was back then.

For most of us, a day off is simply not an option. My dream day off? A day with nothing to do and no responsibilities. I know. It’s just not happening. I’d probably be bored if it did. Isn’t that how life usually is? We want what we want until we get it. Then we want something else.

For a while I tried a “to do” list, conveniently written on a chalkboard I see whenever I sit down. I soon learned to ignore it. Of course, that meant it became useless. I didn’t mean to ignore it. Really. It’s just that I’d run out of time before I got everything done and then I’d start the next day already behind. After a while, it just got too frustrating to try and catch up.

These days I try to take a deep breath and focus. It’s a silent word I repeat over and over. If I can just focus on what’s important, I can deal with the rest later. But what’s important? Surely laundry and elderly parents and work and animals are all important? And so I juggle some more.

The Holy Spirit beckons to me. What’s important? Really. What’s important? Whatever God has called me to do. Whatever God has called you to do. To love others. Show mercy. Extend kindness. To tell others about Jesus.

God has prepared something for each of us to do. We’re all unique so our tasks are all different. But it’s something special for us alone. The key is spending time with God and listening to what He says so that we can learn what it is.

Quietness. Solitude. Time in the Word. Prayer. A relationship with God that brings peace amid turmoil, focus amid a scattered mind. That is the key I’ve been searching for all along.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the stuff that fills our lives and lose focus on what’s important. Start each day with time with God. Stay focused on Him as you go about your daily tasks. It helps keep you centered and able to make clear choices about what’s important and what’s not.