I remember a photographer from my high school days. One day, we were taking yearbook pictures of the school groups and clubs. There we stood, smiles pasted on, waiting for her to take the picture, when suddenly a student yelled from the back row, “Take off the lens cap!” I’ve been thinking about that, this morning, and how applicable it is to life. Until she took the lens cap off, removing that which blocked her sight, she couldn’t see her subject. She needed to fix her focus.
The word “fix” has two meanings, and both apply to life. Sometimes, our focus is wobbly and unsteady. We are looking in the right general direction, but things are unclear and shaky. In this case, a fixed focus is locked in tightly. The other meaning of fixing is to repair what is broken. Sometimes, we are simply looking in the wrong direction or at the wrong things. How exactly do we fix our focus?
Where are you looking?
The first thing to consider is where we are looking. Sometimes, it’s as simple as fixing that. There’s an old saying that says, “You’ll find whatever you’re looking for.” Sometimes, when we look for (or at) the wrong things, we find the wrong things. These three suggestions will help us to fix our focus.
Don’t look down. What do we see when we look down? When we focus internally, we often look down on ourselves. We see shame, guilt, failure, lack, insecurity, and discouragement.
Don’t look around. When we look around, we focus on external things. We see social, political, and moral decay and situations beyond our influence. Then, we become anxious, fearful, worried, and hyper-focused on things we can’t even control.
LOOK UP! When we focus on Jesus, our circumstances lose some of their power, and we choose to look at His power in our lives. We remember that God is bigger than anything we will ever face. We acknowledge that He is good, faithful, and able and that He will never leave us.
When we fix our focus on Jesus, we will hear Him leading us. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). Keeping our eyes on Jesus is the best way to fix our focus.
What are you saying?
Just as we find that for which we are looking, there is also power in our words. Our words set our trajectory. Some of our words go out to others, but the words we speak (out loud, or to ourselves) are also critically important. Let’s take a moment to examine some of the words that cause our focus to go askew. When you hear yourself speak these words to yourself or others, counter them quickly with truth from God’s Word.
“I can’t do this.”–I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
“I’m stuck in this mess alone.”–The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).
“I cannot meet this need in my life. It’s bigger than me.”–My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
“I’m losing this battle. I can’t win.”–In all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37).
Sometimes, we can fix our focus by speaking different words.
What are you thinking?
The final way to fix our focus is to fix our thinking. In fact, maybe this one should have been first. Our words and our attitudes originate in our thoughts. If we fix our thoughts, our words and focus will follow. They say (whoever “they” are) that the best way to replace a negative habit is to replace it with a new one. Let’s apply that to the thoughts that often lead us astray. Instead of telling ourselves “Don’t think this thought,” let’s switch the message to “Think this thought, instead.”
Not my strength or power, but God’s.
Not problems, but possibilities.
Not “I can’t control this” but God can do anything.
Not my ways, but God’s.
Not my thoughts, but God’s.
Not my will, but Thine be done.
Don’t copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2).
We must think about what we’re thinking about.
We must pay attention to what we’re paying attention to.
We must focus on what we’re focusing on.
Only then, can we allow God to fix our focus.