I have a confession to make. I firmly believed when I retired I would stay the same as when I was working full time. At first, I was … I maintained my focus, never got sidetracked, and even had to schedule time to sit still. Boy, how things have changed. I get distracted all day, every day. I admitted to a Walmart manager today that I’ve given up on being a Walmart greeter … the store is just too busy for me to stay focused.
I found a quote (author anonymous) which explains what’s wrong with my focus:
“A lady went to her Pastor and said, “I won’t be attending Church anymore.” The Pastor said, “May I ask why??” The lady responded, “I see people on their cell phones during the service, some are gossiping, some just ain’t living right, they are all just hypocrites.” The Pastor was silent and then said, “Ok… But can I ask you to do something for me before you make your final decision?” The lady said, “What’s that?” Pastor said, “Take a glass of water and walk around the Church 2 times and don’t let any water fall out the glass.” The lady said, “Yes I can do that.”
The lady came back the next Sunday and said “It’s done.” The Pastor then asked her three questions: “1. Did you see anybody on their phone? 2. Did you see anybody gossiping? 3. Was anybody living wrong?” The lady said, “I didn’t see anything because I was so focused on this glass, so the water wouldn’t fall.”
The Pastor then explained, “When you come to Church, you should be just that focused on God, so that you don’t fall. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Follow me.’ He did not say follow Christians. Don’t let your relationship with God be determined by how others relate with God. Let it be determined by how focused YOU are on God.”
This little story was a lightning bolt. I don’t need to be focused on anything but God. Everything else will fall into place. Then I remembered the story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. Here was a blind beggar on the side of a Jericho road calling to Jesus for mercy. But Jesus seemed to just pass him by. Scripture tells us many people around the beggar told him to be quiet. But Bartimaeus was focused and so kept calling out to Jesus. Finally, Bartimaeus was told “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you,” (Mark 10:49b). His faith had healed him and he stood and was healed and could see.
It is so easy for me to lose focus and get distracted! I sincerely want the Bartimaeus kind of focus. I don’t want to miss a single miracle moment with Jesus because I allow distractions and detours get in my way.
So, to help me focus I found a roadmap to help me stay focused spiritually and focused in every facet of my life:
1. Stay in your lane: We have everything we need to encounter Jesus, right where we are. We are not invisible. Jesus sees us. Just stay in place.
2. Run hard: Persevere like Bartimaeus. He had the benefit of encountering Jesus face-to-face in that moment. Today we have the work of the Holy Spirit with us at all times. Keep praying. Keep meditating on the Truth of God’s Word. Stay the course. Call upon His Name.
3. Pass it on: The last verse of this story says, ” … Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road” (Mark 10:52b). Bartimaeus must have thought, “I am the proof of Jesus’ touch and so where He goes, I will go!”
So stay in your lane … run hard … and pass it on. This is the way to stay focused and guaranteed to bring you freedom.
Lord, help me to see You passing me by today. I await all the miracle moments You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com.
Tagged: Jesus, purpose and calling
