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By Rev Don Rivers
What we focus on and what we choose to set as priorities define direction in our lives. Circumstances that are a result of the choices we make can be beneficial or detrimental. They help us to refocus and reprioritize our lives. What are we focused on? How has that focus determined our direction? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever seen a green to checker race? They happen some nights at the Short Track when all the stars align. The competitors are focused on racing, not on anything else. I remember the wildest Green to Checker race I ever saw. Not 30 or 40 laps but 200 laps. Not a wide, spacious track but a quarter-mile Bullring! Each driver had to be focused on the task, no mistakes, no games and no issues. That is driving with focus!
Being a successful racer requires being focused and setting the right priorities. We work hard at getting everything in order. Take a look at the teams that win. I think you will find that they have an organized and focused effort. Their preparation shows in the results they have on the track.
How about life? Focus and direction go hand in hand. They teach us that in driver’s education. What you focus on is where you will end up. Don’t look at the tree, look at the road. I wonder if we need to give some thought to what we are focused on?
I remember Jonah, he was asked by God to do something and he refused. He actually went in the opposite direction; his focus was opposite of where God had asked him to go. That didn’t work out well for him. The circumstances that resulted saw him trapped in a great fish for three days. His focus wasn’t on the things of God.
Do we give any thought to living a life focused on the things that really matter, the things of God? Or do we just let life come to us, living moment to moment, making decisions on the fly? Do we just go along without a focus or priority? Maybe we are focused on something, ourselves. Living life with a selfish focus will not lead us to satisfaction and fulfillment.
Life has a way of overwhelming us. The circumstances of the choices we make are not always what we planned. How do we overcome the results of our choices? Readjusting our focus and having the right priorities is the place to start.
Have you ever gotten to a point in your life that you ask the question, how did I get here? You thought you had everything under control. You thought you could handle anything that would come your way. Then you find yourself wondering how it all went wrong.
We live our lives thinking we have all the answers. We think we are in control. When the bottom falls out we realize that we actually control very little.
It is said that we won’t change until we can’t handle the consequences of our choices. When we hit bottom and look up we see the overwhelming consequences of living life our way. We cry out for help. God provides that answer.
Jonah 2:1-4; NLT; Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!”
Let me ask a question, who knows better how to live the best life possible than the creator of life Himself? No one. If our desire is to live the best life possible our focus must be on God. God has a set of priorities for our lives. The first step is to recognize our need for Him.
Wouldn’t it be great to do this before we end up in a situation that is over our head? God’s offer has always been available but somehow we feel we can get through this life without His help. Our focus should not be on ourselves but it should be on God.
Remember when you were learning how to setup a race car? Where did you go for help? Some of us thought we could figure it out. We tried and tried but we needed help. Did you wait until you spun out and hit the wall? Did someone come over and try to help only to be told by you that you didn’t need it.
You thought you knew it all. When we figure out we don’t, who do we ask for advice? We probably asked the person we thought had it all figured out.
In life it is better if we start off trusting God, but no matter when we figure out we need Him, he is there. Do you know the best part? God doesn’t say “I told you so”. He welcomes you in, forgives your sin and gives you the right to become a child of God. We serve a truly awesome God. I am reminded of Peter and the story of Jesus walking on water.
Matthew 14:25-31, During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Jesus points out a couple of things that keep us from trusting him, fear and doubt. We don’t believe that God’s way is the best way. We somehow feel we know best, until we end up sinking.
Peter said, Lord, if it is you tell me to come. Jesus said come. Peter walked on water. Then he lost his focus. He started to think about everything but Jesus. He started to sink. Remember how focus determines direction?
It is also important to remember how Jesus responded. He didn’t push Peter down or condemn him for doubting. Jesus picked him up and put him back on the boat. He offers us the same, He can and will answer our call for help.
Who are we focused on? What is our priority in life? Is it pleasing God? Is it living in a way that brings honor and praise to God? I encourage you to trust God before you get in too deep. We can learn from Jonah and Peter. Call on God for salvation . He will answer your call and reach out to you. He will set you on the right path, the path that leads to abundant life.
Jonah 2:6b-7, 9b; NLT; “But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
