Focused Obedience

 

    Focus is hard.  That is why so many people struggle with reading books.  We live in an instant world, so things that take time seem inconvenient when in reality it could be building something life changing in you.  Focused obedience is about taking the time to focus on your relationship with God.  It is pushing aside the distractions of life for a set amount of time, so you can learn, seek, or grow.  Investing a little bit of your time with God everyday will transform your entire world.

    Focus is a still set that you can use in every aspect of your life.  It helps your make decisions.  It makes certain things clear.  It helps you not waste time or energy.  It is like a muscle that has to be worked.  Your first time trying to do a daily devotional will probably not go too well.  You have to learn and be patient as you grow.  The point is that you don't stop trying.

    When you start focused study on God's Word it may feel like a waste of time.  True change takes time.  The transformation is unlikely to be immediate.  You are not going to know how to be a true Christian over night.  It is a life long journey.  The more you practice focus in reading God's Word the quicker you will be able to find what you are looking for.  

    Focus will help you develop a trained eye through memorization, fasting, prayer, and wisdom.  It will help you identify your temptations.  It will help you fill that void that only God can fill.  Obedience is not a check list.  It is not something you can just go to and declare right and wrong.  It is developed in your heart through reading scripture and figuring out how to obey God's commandments on a personal level.

    As you learn how to focus on God you will have ups and downs.  You will not do it perfectly, but as long as you submit your heart to God to develop then He will be pleased.  Never allow yourself to get tired of pursuing Him and doing His good works.  

1 Samuel 15:20-23, Mark 12:32-33, Luke 11:28, & John 14:15-21