Read: Psalm 119:-16

Focus is an important thing.  Focus in our life is the most important thing.  I recently read a story about a soccer match between two teams in Scotland in which focus was a problem.  To cut down on the number of people in attendance at the game the producers decided to use an artificial intelligent camera system to broadcast the game.  It didn’t work so well.  The AI camera was supposed to follow the soccer ball but instead followed the bald head of the side linesman the whole time.  While the action continued off the screen the camera stayed focused on the man’s bald head for much of the game.

Psalm 119 in the Bible is all about focus.  Many of it’s 176 verses (most in the Bible) talk about focusing our life on God instead of the temporal things of this world.  Verses 15 and 16 are a good example, they say, “I will meditate on your precepts and consider your ways, I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”  Verse 36 also says, “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.”  I could go on but I encourage you to read this entire Psalm. 

You see, focus is key to living life in a manner that is healthy and pleasing to God.  As we come out of the challenging year that 2020 was, our focus in 2021 is so very important.  If we focus on all the challenges, divisions, and hardships of the world in this year ahead we will often struggle to find joy and happiness.  If we focus on the promises and the things of God in 2021 we will be able to look past the temporal and embrace the eternal.  In Jesus we can find true joy and happiness that will help us to be blessed in this new year ahead.  Where you are focused is key!

Make it personal: We don’t know what 2021 will throw at us.  We sure didn’t see the challenges of 2020 at the first of January last year.  But we do know this… “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Be blessed in 2021, Glen Rhodes