“How to Stay Seasonally Focused!” ~Blog Post by T.H.M~Holiday Edition

Have you ever felt like your focus on God has been lacking? This time of year, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the presents, the events, the lights, the glitz, and the glamor of the season. I would say most of us have felt a little out of focus this time of year.

Then you add on living through a Pandemic and I believe all of us have had our eyes blurred with stress and tears. Furthermore hanging by a thread to the focus we so deeply need in our Faith.

I am describing myself because I have noticed in this last year my focus on Him has not been 100% like it should be. I have honestly focused most of my attention on God and His word, but in some cases I found that my everyday programming has tended to outweigh the priority of speaking and listening to His voice.

I must continue remember and make a serious effort to consistently redirect my focus because God’s focus is always on me. Even while I have struggled to keep my emotions together, or struggled to understand why I am in so much pain, or struggled to understand why loved ones had to leave…..I continue to make efforts to allow my Faith to go before me.

Are you struggling to do the same thing?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

We are all plagued with thoughts. Some good and some not so good. And many of us are having some internal wars that most do not know we struggle with.

Even during the most emotional times, unnecessary and dangerous thoughts creep into our minds.

When we are supposed to be totally in tuned with God, our thoughts slowly pull us away from His presence and the hope to keep moving forward.

What do you do when you have gone through a whole week, month, or even a year and you have not stood in His presence? How do we redirect our focus so that we can live our best lives in Him?

Well the word is very clear, but the key is to allow the time to lay our own agendas aside, to focus on God’s plans for us. Unfortunately my focus has been diverted at times, but now I focus on the redirection.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Maintaining focus is very difficult, I cannot lie about that.

Most of us find it hard to just focus on taking better care of ourselves on a daily basis. We honestly find it easy to put our spiritual selves on the back burner.

While it’s put on the forefront to always maintain these physical bodies.

I find that when I go for a period of time without seeking God, most of my life starts to slowly fall apart, and I am not talking about the huge things.

I am talking about the slow craziness that creeps in. For me, being a wife and a mom takes a strength that many times I believe I fail at maintaining.

I always thought it took certain things to keep all the hats in the air…yet I realize it’s only God’s grace and His mercy that allows me to take every moment and breathe through it.

“I am at my best when I totally rely on God’s faithfulness.”

God, believe it or not, blocks so many things from happening to us even when we are in the fog of our own spiritual storm.

Just maintaining healthy relationships become impossible if we are not working on our relationship with Christ.

God sets the standard for good relationships.

We must seek His council often to keep our healthy balance. We must direct our focus since He allows us to have the honor of that choice.

Finally, this holiday season I urge you to take a few moments out of your busy day to just redirect your focus.

Take some time to read a bible verse or two. Sit quietly and meditate on how good God has been to you this year, despite all you have lost or gone through.

If you can take time to use your cell phone then you can take the time talk to God.

Do not let these days go by without seeking His presence.

The Christmas holiday, I believe is a time for miracles because Jesus is the miracle that was given to this world. Everywhere you look, if you focus, you will find God’s hand in the beauty that surrounds us.

You will find when your spirit is full of His promises then your physical and emotional tank will never go empty.

My focus is redirected, how about yours?

You got this, and Merry Christmas Everyone!

Sincerely,

Terryn Horton-Morton