The Faith to Stay Focused

Do you know what Satan's greatest weapon is?  What is the number one thing that leads people astray from God?  Distraction.

Distractions rob us of so much. They keep us busy robbing us of time and relationships.  They keep us striving for more robbing us of contentment.  They wear us out and rob us of our joy.  But perhaps the most important asset distraction steals from us is focus.

When we fail to focus we take our eyes of God and we end up like Peter, sinking towards the bottom of the sea. Let's visit one of my favorite illustrations in the Bible. (All of the Bible is my favorite so you will hear that a lot.)

Read through text and then I will help you break it down and share a modern context and application from my own life this week.

​Jesus Walks on the Water (Matthew 14:22-32)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

So Jesus is doing what Jesus does.  The impossible.  Not only is He doing the impossible but He is doing it to build the faith of His disciples.  Miracles are the business of God, and this walking on water was pretty exciting business, Peter wanted in on it.

Jesus, being Jesus, was like, "Here take it.  Everything I have is yours.  Come walk on the water with me."  He does everything to make it possible for Peter.  Peter just has to step out in trust.

And He steps out and it's amazing.  He is really walking on water!  But then he looks around and sees all the reasons why he shouldn't be walking on water.   The winds are blowing mightily, the waves are crashing, and well...it's water.  People don't walk on water.

With each negative thought Peter sinks into the water until he has to cry out to Jesus to save him.  I can just picture Jesus shaking his head slowly, wanting so badly for Peter to take hold of the miracle.  Then he says, Peter "why did you doubt?"  In essence He was saying.  "Peter I did all the hard stuff.  I produced the miracle and all you had to do to take hold was believe and put one foot in front of the other.”

AND NOW FOR A COMPLETELY CONVICTED CONFESSION FROM YOURS TRULY.

Three weeks ago I started this site.  It was a long time coming but the timing was affirmed by God.  I knew it was right.  At that same point in time I was working on a big project for a ministry that is transforming lives.  I am collecting stories of life transformation to tell through video, social media and other outlets.  These stories will play a role in the redemption of others.   Then my son chocked on a toy at daycare and was rushed to surgery.  I was distracted, rightfully so.  

The last week was spent trying to come to terms with what happened and the fact I was not there for my precious 2-year-old boy, and then looking for a new preschool for him and trying to keep up with work as I care for him at home in the meantime.  Suddenly my life is full of distractions.  Suddenly I am just like Peter standing on the edge of a miracle, the miracle of God using me to build His kingdom, and I am just like Peter, doubting.

Maybe I should not write.
Maybe I should stay home and not work.
Maybe I took on too much.

But here is the thing.  God gifted me with a love of words and a passion to preach His Word.  He told me to step on the water and start this blog so who am I to cower and say that the distractions are too much to keep going?    God orchestrated my employment and even the childcare that my son was in.  Who am I to say his plan was not right or that the road is too hard?  Who am I to make excuses of why I can't use the gifts God has given me in the way He asks me to use them just because the waters get rocky sometimes?  

And that, friends, is how distractions steal your focus.  That is how Satan makes sure that you don't use your gifts to bless others.  So we have to push in and encourage each other.  

​We have to have the faith to stay focused on the gifts God has given us and to doing the good work He has set before us.  TWEET THIS

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  1 Peter 5:8-9

Pin these images to read for inspiration in the future.

I love it when you interact with me on social!