The Power of a Shifted Focus
Well, hello there, friend, come on up to this ol’ front porch for a moment. What a treat to have you stoppin’ in for a lil’ ol’ spell. I was just watchin’ a lil’ ol’ bossy squirrel this mornin’ as it was tryin’ real hard to be holdin’ a joint staff meetin’ with three lil’ blue jays, flappin’ and fussin’ around like they was plum discussin’ our national security. It sho’-nuff’ reminded me of Saul’s army in First Samuel 17. They were all lookin’ at the same real tall giant, Goliath, but mercy, their focus made that ol’ giant look ten feet taller than he already was. Today’s truth is real simple and sharp. What you stare at and keep focusin’ on will shape what you believe.
Saul and the army had Goliath on the brain. They talked about his size, his armor, his weapons, and his reputation. The more they talked, the bigger ol’ Goliath grew in their minds. Fear plum works like that, too. It gits to stretchin’ the shadows and magnifyin’ all the noise. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” They were weighin’ themselves down with all that giant talk instead of lookin’ to God and speakin’ His truth.
David came along and saw the very same ol’ giant, but his focus was sho’-nuff’ entirely different. He plum remembered God’s faithfulness with the lion and the bear. He plum remembered God’s real good promises. He sho’-nuff’ remembered who was really in control. Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” David’s eyes were fixed right on God, not on that ol’ giant. And the more he focused on God, the greater God became in his eyes, and the smaller the giant seemed.
Second Corinthians 4:18 gives us another layer of truth as it says, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Giants are plum temporary. God is sho’-nuff eternal. What you focus on gits to growin’ bigger and bigger.
So, let me be askin’ you, friend. What plum has your attention today? Your problem? Your fears? Your uncertainty? Or the God who is greater than all of ‘em? The difference between fear and courage ain’t the size of the giant. It’s the size of your focus.
Father, help us fix our eyes on You. Remind us of Your faithfulness, strengthen our hearts, and steady our steps. Make Your presence larger in our eyes than any giant we face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I do declare, friend, you can’t be lettin’ today’s giants git to convincin’ you that they’re plum runnin the show. They’re only as big as your focus allows ‘em to be. What sho’-nuff’ looks real overwhelmin’ right now may shrink to the size of a lil’ ol’ field mouse once you lift your eyes to focus on the God who stands above it all. Just as a sunrise rolls over the hills and hushes even the loudest crowin’ ol’ rooster that thought it done figured out how to be ownin’ the mornin’, God will quiet your fears and steady your heart again. And long after the night stars fade out with the risin’ of the mornin’ sun, His mighty strength will still be holdin’ you real close, fully remindin’ you that all them ol’ giants fall flat when your focus on God fills up your view.
With joy,
Gwen
