Findin’ Undivided Focus
Well now, friend, look at you showin’ up like the first sip of cold sweet, iced tea after a long mornin’. Come right on up here on this here ol’ front porch, and git ready for our daily chat because it’s a real doozy, for sure. If you’ve ever tried to chase two chickens at once, you already know what a divided heart feels like. One minute you’re runnin’ after what you think matters, the next minute you’re darting after somethin’ shiny that don’t matter quite as much. Before you know it, you’re spinnin’ around your in own yard like a confused ol’ turkey gobbler that wandered too close to a lawnmower. That’s why Matthew 5:8 hits home every time. It says, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” And just to anchor the whole idea down real good, Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” Now that’ll settle your soul quicker than sweet tea on a hot day.
Paul understood this better than most. In Philippians 3:12-14 he said he hadn’t reached perfection, but he focused on one thing. Not eight things. Not four things. One thing. Forgetting what was behind and pressing toward what was ahead. That there’s the kind of focus a believer plum needs, because tryin’ to live for God while chasin’ the world is like tryin’ to ride two ol’ mules at the same time. You’re gonna fall off, and it sho’-nuff’ won’t be very graceful either.
Jesus made it real clear that a pure heart is an undivided one. A heart that knows where it’s goin’. A heart that isn’t tryin’ to straddle two kingdoms. Peter backed Him up in 1 Peter 2:9 when he said, “We’re a chosen people called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.” And Paul chimed in again in Colossians 3:1-4 reminding us to set our minds on things above because our real life is hidden with Christ.
We live in a world that plum throws distractions at us like acorns falling on a tin roof. If we’re not careful, our hearts get pulled in every direction. Romans 16:19 urges us to be wise in doing right and innocent of wrong. That’s God’s way of saying, “Friend, keep your eyes on Me and stop chasing every squirrel that runs by.”
Lord, give me an undivided heart. Help me focus on You above everything else. Teach me to let go of what pulls me away and cling to what draws me close. Make my priorities clear and my devotion steady. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Well ,friend, that’s enough of our time of porch pondering for one day. As you head into your daily doin’s, be lettin’ your heart stay as steady as a cow that went and found a shady patch of grass. Keep your focus fixed on Jesus even when life gits to tossin’ distractions at you like popcorn jumpin’ around in a hot skillet. And be knowin’ full well that a heart that’s fully His is a heart that’s fully at peace.
With joy,
Gwen
