Day 20 - Rebuilding
Scripture focus: This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, the God who summons horses and chariots and armies— they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' —the coyotes and the buzzards—because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me. Isaiah 43:16-21 The Message
Experts tell us that we miss the present when we live in the past. I love hearing that God builds a road right through the ocean and carves a path through the waves. When I got cocky about my own fearlessness and read a frightening book while Pete was out of town, it seemed reasonable to pile furniture in front of the doors to our home to keep the bad guys out. Little did I know that our efforts to avoid pain often are the pathway to suffering. I moved furniture in the middle of the night because I lost focus. I feared for my safety because my perception shifted as I read a novel about a serial killer. If I could have stayed focused on the present reality, I would have laid the book aside when my anxiety began to rise. I might have avoided the need to explain to my preschoolers why the sofa was leaning against the front door. Tiger Woods agrees. “Focus in the moment is THE most important aspect of my game.” How does he do it?
- Tiger stays focused on what is happening now. His dad told him once that is was okay to get angry about an errant shot – so long as he had shaken it off before he stepped up to hit his next shot. How many times have we watched him smack a ball into the woods, only to save the day with an amazing shot out of trouble?
- Acknowledge worry, but don’t focus on it. It’s important to tell ourselves the truth about how we’re feeling. But we also need to be alert and present. If we believe God is about to do a new thing then we need to be looking for it. This keeps our attention focused on the hopeful possibilities, not just the worse case scenarios.
- Don’t multi-task. Pay attention whether you’re taking out the trash or cheering at your kid’s ballgame. Do one thing at a time, no matter how menial – God uses even small moments to get our attention. Focus.
- Don’t rob your present for the sake of your future or in bondage to your past. Avoid sabotaging your present by refusing to get distracted.
- Build community. Even Tiger has a coach.
- click on the word comments and join our conversation
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