Fully Focused

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/hER5UwlMYAc

“Fully Focused”

Acts 20:24 NLT

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

 

Isn’t it crazy and amazing how unfocused we can become at times in our lives?  Many of us probably have consistent days of having tons of things on our minds.  We try to cram as many things as we possibly can into one day.  We need to get productive and do as much as possible.  Sometimes I talk with others who say, “Too much to do and not enough hours in the day to do them”.  While this is funny at first, it’s really actually sad.  We get way too much on our plates and then we end up not fully focusing on really anything. 

 

As I think about this passage in Acts, it’s amazing how focused Paul was on the task he had at hand.  He accomplished many things in life, but nothing became more important to him than being fully focused on Christ and finishing the work for the Kingdom.  That is ALL he was focused on.  He came to realize that no accomplishment is better or greater than serving the Kingdom and doing the work of God.  He considered everything else in life nothing unless it was serving Christ.

 

I often wonder how many things I put importance on in my daily life that really doesn’t mean much.  Maybe we all need to take a step back and consider what all we do each day and what meaning it really has.  What means the most to us?  Work?  Family? Hobbies?  What means the absolute most to you?  Hopefully it is a relationship and life served in Christ.  Paul was fully focused and we need to be as well.

 

Instead of us trying to focus on a million things each day, perhaps we should realize there is only 1 focus we need each day.  Our focus should be solely on Christ alone.  I want to be fully focused, but I just have so many things on my mind each day.  Now, don’t get me wrong, we need to take care of responsibilities each day for sure.  However, we tend to get focused on way too many things and end up running ourselves down.  We need to be fully focused as Paul was and strive to serve Christ each day.  In doing this, our priorities will align and we will take care of things that are truly important.

 

Let’s be fully focused as Paul was and strive to finish the work God has called us to do.  

Lighten Up And Live

 YouTube Channel Video Devo

https://youtu.be/zr-tl2xEVY4

“Lighten Up And Live”

Proverbs 17:22 NLT

A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

 

I chose the title of this devotional from a phrase that Christian comedian and motivational speaker, Ken Davis uses in his radio ministry.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we need to be reminded that life is too short to take too seriously.  I’ve often heard the phrase, “Don’t take yourself so seriously”.  I admit I am WAY bad about this!  I tend to find myself taking things way too seriously and not laughing more as I should. 

 

I get so down on myself when I do dumb things instead of just laughing and moving on.  My wife and my girls are great reminders to me that I need to lighten up and live and enjoy more of life!  My wife especially reminds me of this and she is soooooooooo patient with me! 

 

This devotional is nothing terribly deep, but a great reminder that we need to remember to laugh more often.  I find when I laugh more, I feel so much better and I enjoy life more.  I find that I’m less agitated and people want to be around me more.  It makes sense, doesn’t it?

 

I really appreciate how Ken Davis reminds us to lighten up and live.  We have to find more joy in everyday life in just being more lighthearted.  I am totally preaching this to myself as well as to you.  I have been so bad about this for so many years of my life.  I tend to be a serious person naturally.  Sometimes that can be good, but often times it takes me away from enjoying the wonderful every day things that God does around me.

 

God DOES have a sense of humor and He loves when we just laugh and enjoy life.  He especially loves this when unexpected things happen to us and we make the most of it and find some way to laugh and move on.  It’s so easy too often to get angry and focus on the negative.  I have always appreciated people who are so laid back and find a way to smile through everything almost.  I want to be like that! 

 

Friends, some of us are naturally more light-hearted than others.  The rest of us tend to take life a little too seriously more than we should.  We need to learn to laugh more and lighten up and live!

 

Ken Davis, if you ever somehow come across this devotional, THANK YOU for your constant reminders of how we should lighten up and live!