Focus Forward: Midyear Check-In

“Don’t look back, you’re not going that way”

I did a poll on Instagram to inquire about what topics ladies were interested in reading about for this week’s devotional email and someone responded with my favorite topic: focus forward. Naturally, and with huge bias, I decided to use it 🙂

What does “focus” mean to you? By definition, focus means “center of interest or activity”. When this concept came to me at the beginning of the year, I immediately thought about what things were at the center of my interest which led me to consider what was at the center of my day, at the center of my conversations, my prayers, and my to-do list. Theoretically, “focus forward” would include centering one’s attention on the future, but for me, it meant so much more than that.

What was I looking ahead to see? What things lie ahead of me that needed to be done?

The scary thing about the future is we can’t see it and the beautiful thing about the future is we can’t see it. (sounds confusing, but bear with me) The Lord has concealed the future which is a strategy to incentivize and fan our faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) so faith is required to please God and obey Him at the same time. “Focus” means we look at God more than we look at the bends in the road, more than the rough terrain on the mountains we climb, more than waves in the middle of the sea carrying us from one side to another. Focus. The center of our attention and interest must be God. We have to be locked in on Him. Eyes shut to the world and open in the Spirit.

“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.” Proverbs 3:5 & 6

Forward is a direction and for the past six months, God has shown me what forward means in my life. I was recently running on the beach and as I was meditating on a concept I saw arrows pointing forward. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe God is omnipresent and can talk to our spirits using anything, even arrows taped to concrete in the middle of Summer. I stopped wrestling with the idea and whispered to myself “focus forward”.

In the Bible, there are so many examples of people having to move forward, often with little instruction or insight at the moment, but always with God going before them. I think of Moses who led the people in the desert, Abraham who left his father’s house without knowing his next move, Ruth who journeyed with Naomi without knowing if joy would find her again, and even Mary after the angel told her Jesus had risen. All of these people, humans just like us, were asked to focus and move forward.

What’s behind you is behind you for a reason. There are 6 more months left in the year. That is more than enough time for you to center your interest on God has brought into your mind and move forward as He guides you. There’s grace for when we get tired and need a rest and the journey ahead is still there waiting for us when we get back up.

God rewards obedience and faithfulness. I don’t know what you should focus on, but I do know forward is the direction we all should be headed in.

“And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went.” Ezekial 1:12

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What I’m reading: “The Purpose Room” by Heather Lindsey. I actually finished this book a few weeks ago, but I’m dropping the link for anyone who wants a quick read on cultivating their purpose.

What I’m listening to: “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship; this song reminds me of the power in “again”. What God did He certainly has the power to do again, and again.