What are You Focused on?

 

The sun is the largest object in our solar system, with a diameter of about 865,000 miles (1). The sun is 109 times wider than Earth, and it accounts for more than 99.8 percent of the solar system's total mass (2). And yet to the person in this picture, their hand, at mere inches in diameter, is bigger.

Your focus, what you give your attention to, matters SO MUCH! We all have problems in life. Some of them small, like struggling with a web log-in (yes I've been fighting that battle for a few days now). Some are larger, like a brain tumor (oh yeah, got one of those too). But the absolute truth is that no matter how big your problem is, Jesus is bigger! But when our attention is hyper focused on our problems, sometimes its hard to remember that.

“Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation”  Luke 2:28-30

 

Days after Jesus was born his parents took him to the temple to offer the traditional sacrifices. While they were there, a man named Simeon showed up. He took one look at Jesus and, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, knew that He was the Messiah prophesied to save them all. God had promised him that he would not die before he saw the Christ, and now his life was complete. He could have focused on the fact that this was just a baby (how would he lead an army and rule the world?). He could have been distracted by the lack of status or wealth of his family (surely someone with so much power would come from a powerful family?). But instead, he saw with God's eyes. He saw Jesus and that was what mattered most!
   


When I look at myself, I could see someone with EDS. I could see someone with a brain tumor. But guys, I'm so much more than that!  First and foremost, I am a daughter of the King. He has saved me, cleansed me, and made me new. 
I am a wife 


I am a mom 


I am a daughter, granddaughter, and niece 

I am a blogger  

I am a traveler 

I am an ambulatory wheelchair user 

 I am all these things and so much more! I could allow my life to be defined by my struggles, and yes, they certainly have a role, or I could keep my eyes on Jesus and let all the other things become the little things that they are compared to Him.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith."  Hebrews 12:1-2a, emphasis mine 

 Here's the thing: Whatever has our attention is going to seem like the biggest, most important thing. Much of the time, it's just not. By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we keep the main thing the main thing. We let Him define our lives, our hopes, our choices. We don't get tripped up by little things, and trust me, they are truly little things. 


(1) Sun: Facts - NASA Science

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