STXWM Blog

“13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:13-16 NLT)

We’ve talked a lot about focus this year. Focus is not just a spiritual goal or biblical discipline. It is a coveted practice the world over. Something that everyone wants to get a handle on, believer and non-believer alike. Why is it so desired? Because it may be possible to attain a desired outcome or destination, if you maintain a single focus. How does one even go about attaining a fixed focal point?

Before we answer that question, let’s rewind it a little bit and talk about you. You were known, loved, chosen and adopted by God before you were even born.

“4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” (Ephesians 1:4-11 NLT)

He lovingly created you with intention and purpose. Our key scripture says that God knit you together in your mother’s womb. Have you ever observed the process of knitting? It can’t be done without the artist’s attention to detail. One cannot knit unless they are looking intently at their craft with focus. And not only that, He took the time to write out your entire life, literally every single moment of it. God laid out your journey in its entirety, before you were even born.

Just stop and think about that for a moment. Let’s say you have been breathing on this planet for 28 years. Mathematically, there are 83,536,000 seconds in one year, and you have been around for 27 more years than that. That means that your heavenly Father who created you, took the time to lovingly plan out every one of your 883 million, 8 thousand moments that you have experienced so far. What about the next 883 million, and the 883 million after that? He thoughtfully and creatively planned your entire life. Every. Single. Moment. You were adoringly and meticulously fashioned by the lover of your soul. You were shaped and your life was invented by a God who thought about every aspect of your being, and even went so far as to write it all down in your very own book. And more than that, He was lovingly looking on as He fashioned you, and I imagine that He was smiling with excitement and anticipation the entire time, just like a master artist might do.

So now, back to our original question: How does one go about maintaining a fixed focal point? Knowing what you know about the detail and intention that your heavenly Father has built into every crevice of your life, why would you not want to keep your focus on Him? Realizing that you were flawlessly fashioned by a master artist who loves you more than anyone on this planet ever has or ever will, should compel you to stay in His presence. I would rather be with someone who unquestionably knows me, loves me and cherishes me, than with anyone else, any day of the week. You see, friend, my soul longs to be in proximity with its Creator.

Living with the confidence that you were devotedly designed and are infinitely loved by God changes everything. Your focus no longer becomes a chore or a task. The fact that you were fashioned by Him creates an unending fountain of love, joy and gratitude.

Interestingly, friend, it is also liberating. You no longer need to scratch, claw and strive to find what to focus on, or how to force your attention to submit to your will. Knowing you are loved will compel you to look to Him. Understanding you were created with purpose will cause you to stay close. Realizing you are chosen will drive you to reciprocate the devotion. Grasping that you were bought back from the enemy because God is so in love with you that He does not want to miss out on another relationship moment with you will enable your heart to be settled in Him.

Living with the confidence that you were designed by God changes everything. Your focus no longer becomes a chore or task. You no longer need to scratch, claw or strive. Knowing you are loved will compel you to look to Him.

April Jones

You will rest, daughter, knowing that He has everything under control. You will be at peace, friend, realizing that His plan is better than yours. You will breathe, child, understanding that God smiles when He looks at you. And you will sleep peacefully, dear sister, comprehending that every moment in your future has already been assigned a perfect plan.

Focus on Him. Relax and let your heart, mind and soul drift to the only One who is truly worthy of it all.

Father, I am in awe of your incredible attention to my design and purpose. You chose me and purchased me back from the throes of sin and I am happy to be eternally grateful for your sacrifice. Thank you for loving me, even when I felt unlovable. Although I realize that I can never repay you, I am going to live my life trying. I can’t wait to see you face to face, to feel your arms of love around me and to live with you forever. Until then, I choose to live a life of contentment that is focused on You. In Your precious name, Amen.