Set Your Focus
When I was young, I loved to go to the beach with my family and set up our spot with a huge red umbrella. I would play in the water for hours and just get lost in my thoughts. One afternoon, I eventually swam out to a second sandbar way out in the water, and when I stood up to wave to my family, I couldn’t see them. I looked and looked, but I couldn’t find the red umbrella in the crowd. In a panic, I swam back to shore and walked in one direction until I finally saw the red umbrella. My little girl heart was overjoyed!
I hadn’t realized that while I was playing in the water for a few hours, the current had caused me to slowly but subtly drift down the beach. It’s like what happens in life sometimes. There are undercurrents in our life that cause us to drift and get off course—anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, bad attitudes. One man told me, “My father was a pastor. I just slowly drifted away from God.” The other day a woman said, “My husband and I were so happy early in our marriage. But now we’ve drifted apart and argue and fight. We’re separated.” These are the results of not being on guard against the undercurrents in our life that cause us to drift from our set point.
Have you ever said something to someone just to let off a little steam? You think, “Oh, it’s okay. They deserve it.” Sometimes we think the angry words are small things, but they can become big things that destroy your relationship. Look out for the small things. The Bible calls them “the little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song of Songs 2:15). You show up late for work and think, “Well, my boss never comes until 8:30. I can be a little late.” You’re not giving it your best. You start surfing the internet while you’re on company time and say, “It’s okay. I’ll skip lunch.” These are the small things that cause us to drift.
Let’s be on guard every single day. The apostle Paul says, “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). That means to set your mind on the important things in life—the things that bring you closer to your destiny, that cause you to have a strong marriage, good relationships, and a great job. Set your mind to walk in integrity and lay aside every weight and sin that causes you to drift. Set your mind to honor God in all you do—big and small!
I hadn’t realized that while I was playing in the water for a few hours, the current had caused me to slowly but subtly drift down the beach. It’s like what happens in life sometimes. There are undercurrents in our life that cause us to drift and get off course—anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, bad attitudes. One man told me, “My father was a pastor. I just slowly drifted away from God.” The other day a woman said, “My husband and I were so happy early in our marriage. But now we’ve drifted apart and argue and fight. We’re separated.” These are the results of not being on guard against the undercurrents in our life that cause us to drift from our set point.
Have you ever said something to someone just to let off a little steam? You think, “Oh, it’s okay. They deserve it.” Sometimes we think the angry words are small things, but they can become big things that destroy your relationship. Look out for the small things. The Bible calls them “the little foxes that spoil the vines” (Song of Songs 2:15). You show up late for work and think, “Well, my boss never comes until 8:30. I can be a little late.” You’re not giving it your best. You start surfing the internet while you’re on company time and say, “It’s okay. I’ll skip lunch.” These are the small things that cause us to drift.
Let’s be on guard every single day. The apostle Paul says, “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). That means to set your mind on the important things in life—the things that bring you closer to your destiny, that cause you to have a strong marriage, good relationships, and a great job. Set your mind to walk in integrity and lay aside every weight and sin that causes you to drift. Set your mind to honor God in all you do—big and small!