Finding Focus
Today's Scripture
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Thoughts for Today
Have you ever been carsick? The primary reason for car sickness is because as the car races along, passengers are not able to focus on a solid object. The one person in a car who almost never gets sick is the driver. Why? The driver is focused on the road ahead, looking intently at the solid objects outside the car that aren't bouncing and turning. He or she has a good sense of where the horizon is.
The key is in the word focus. Are we focusing on Christ--who never changes--or are we focusing on the circumstances that keep turning and swirling and changing? Focusing on Jesus can bring much-needed balance to our lives.
Consider this…
Are you focusing on circumstances? Have you become a caretaker of another person's problem? What about how your time is spent? Your priorities in life? Your daily schedule? Your health? Your time alone with God? Your involvement at church? Your friendships? Has your value system been compromised? Is your life out of balance?
When a loved one is trapped in a life-controlling problem, we can be drawn into focusing all our attention and energy on that problem. But today's scripture has the answer to the danger of codependency: fix our eyes--focus--on Jesus.
When our focus is on Christ, all the other areas of our life will come into balance--including our relationships with those we care about.
Where is your focus?
Prayer…
Father, I know I have been focusing too much on problems instead of on Jesus. And as the circumstances around me change, I have become confused and discouraged. Help me fix my eyes on Jesus. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from…
Concerned Persons: Because We Need Each Other by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This group is designed for the many people who have a current or past relationship with a person who has a life-controlling problem.
· It emphasizes the need we all have for each other.
· It helps people focus on Christ rather than on the problem.
· It serves as a powerful evangelistic tool by providing a way to minister to people's felt needs and then pointing them to Christ.
Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a study for individuals or couples.
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