Lord, Help Me Focus
It’s my first day back to work from vacation. I’ve found myself saying, “Lord, help me focus” multiple times this morning. Not so much because I can’t focus, but because I must focus to get it all done before I fly to Chicago to speak at the Leadership Summit. When I think about this practice of focusing on One Thing – staying connected and responsive moment by moment, the two places I find it most helpful are in the stresses of work, and in my closest relationships (with my wife, son, and daughter). That’s also where I find it easiest to slip back into my old autopilot ways faster than I raced down the Dragonblaster waterslide with my son this summer.
In fact, the way I always dealt with too much to do was to work myself into a ball of stress, and then use that frenetic energy to get more done. Only problem, that whirlwind I can spin into leaves lots of relational collateral damage in my path—including in my own soul.
So Lord, help me focus on the next thing You want me to do. That’s actually the best I can do. “Without faith it’s impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) So I do my work with God, trusting (having faith) that as I ask for wisdom in what to focus on next, he will lead me. It turns everything into a faith-venture. And if I’m doing it with Him and for Him, and I truly believe He leads me as I stay connected and trust—that can actually bring peace to an impossible-looking list of “to dos” and interruptions. I can “rest” knowing I’m only human, so I do have limits. I can’t do it all, so He must not want me to do it all, but He can lead me to do the things most important to Him, and to use my gifts to better lead, delegate, and do the things I can do best to contribute.
Now here is a great example of the world most of us live in…while trying to get this blog done, I had three interruptions involving three major decisions that could affect lots of people. Part of this comes from being gone, but part of it is just life—interruptions, more to do than time to do it—what do you do?
I’m sure many of you have a lot of great ideas that you’ve found work for you (I’d love to hear some insights). I remember one day years ago, feeling overwhelmed, and saying “God, why are you doing this to me?” To which I had this verse immediately pop into my brain, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) This is how God’s Spirit works, he brings to mind the truths Jesus taught. In that moment I realized, “You’re not doing this to me, I’m doing this to me. I’m not doing it right, am I Lord?” I realized if I’m feeling weary and burdened by “all I have to do” or “all the interruptions” then I’m not doing it staying connected to the one whose agenda for me is not burdensome! It’s really that simple.
Of course, that creates some tensions ‘cause there’s still stuff that must be done. As you seek to listen and respond, I’m curious what others hear when lists and interruptions overwhelm and burden us.
welcome to the blogging world, John
really looking forward to learning from your new blog
we love visiting Gateway when we travel to Austin to visit family
Comment by Aaron — August 5, 2008 @ 8:54 am
I feel blessed to read your words on this. So often I feel like I am the only person who “doesn’t get this right”. This blog is so encouraging. Thank You!
Comment by Jenn — August 5, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Excited to hear you speak at the Leadership Summit. Can you plug Gateway Student Ministry for me?
Ha Ha Ha
Comment by chad swanzy — August 7, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
Welcome to the blogosphere! You did great today at Leadership Summit!
Comment by kennyconley — August 7, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
Very inspired by your presentation yesterday at the
Leadership Summit. Was wondering where you went to
seminary?
Comment by Dr. Bryan L. Wade — August 8, 2008 @ 7:00 am
I know it’s October now, but ironically about the time of this post I was planning a vacation with my brother who lives out of state to visit my 93 yr old grandmother. My plans didn’t go the way I had planned and I was crushed. I found out Aug 7th that my brother’s trip was on Aug 7th, and my trip was one week to the day later than that. I hadn’t seen my brother in two years and my grandmother I hadn’t seen even longer than that. Lack of communication was to blame. Through the tears and pain, I realized this was my plan, not Gods. I cried out, “God, why did you do this to me?” I saw there were many opportunites for this to have worked, but none of those opportunites presented themselves. So I began to wonder, if God had a better plan, a different plan, that I was unaware of. During that week, I was worried about loose ends not being tied, and that things would be discovered while I was away. I really thought out all the things that could go wrong while I was away, and I began to prepare that these things would not go wrong. I kind of felt as if God stepped in without my asking, and I know why. Simply because of his love for me and my willingness to see the bigger picture. One thing in particular that I was worried about rectified itself on it’s own, or shall I say God rectified it. I received a phone call that week about an item I was worried about, and I heard loud and clear through the rectification (if that’s even a word) that I had nothing to worry about, and that I was a faithful worker. So the worries stopped which also prepared me for a restful and enjoyable vacation. The night before my return, I began to worry about things that might have come up while I was away. And just like that, the worries subsided and I was able to get one last worrisome night of rest before the end of my vacation. I also realized that God’s plan was better. I was able to spend much more time with my grandmother, as I would have been distracted if my brother, his wife, and my nephews would have been there. Plus I found out my brother was coming to Texas for Christmas, and I would see him soon anyway. So faithfullness and trust can really carry you a long way. Even without asking, God can give you rest. His plan is better than your plans. I praise God for all these things.
Comment by SandraHoofnagle — October 2, 2008 @ 9:03 pm