Refocus

Hi there Masterpiece. You may or may not feel like that when you read this but here’s some encouragement as well as a reminder that your feelings are not always in line with the truth. They’ll get there but your mind needs to take the lead. You need to know you’re worth it, even on the days you don’t feel like you are. Woah. Getting ahead of myself here but you may have needed that. Let’s dial back for a moment.

At the risk of sounding like your corporate email thread, I hope this blog post meets you well. Lol. Really though, I do hope you are in a good space as you read this but even if you aren’t, there’s hope cause you’re still here. That means there’s still opportunity for you to see God turn that mess around and birth beauty from it. We serve a God that knows how to make stupid things make sense… best author there is. You know how we always say “Make it make sense” ? Or is that just a Nigerian thing? I don’t know. Anyways, He’s the only one that can actually make all things make sense(Rom 8:28). With that in mind, I implore you to hold on. Don’t let go. You’ve got this because God’s got you. Lean into Him. Surrender that weakness to Him and watch His strength show up for you.

I expect this one to be a very quick read(comparatively lol). Like you already know based on the title that couldn’t be clearer, this blog post is about focus. Yes, Focus. And moreso, Refocusing. Many of us already know where to set our eyes and heart – on our saviour Jesus Christ. On our God. On heavenly things and not earthly things. We know this … yet, like Peter, we have moments where our focus drifts and albeit for what feels like a millisecond, the result of that shift can feel overwhelming, catastrophic and just like Peter, fatal. Yep, if not for Jesus, that brief moment where his gaze shifted from his master to the waves could have cost him his life. It’s like when you try to set the focus on a camera ( for the photography nerds), if you don’t lock it in, you run the risk of everything going out of focus…. The result of this is part of your footage ends up being hazy because it missed the details. Well, this is a very practical lesson I’m relearning in this season.

I want to speak very practically as this pertains to my life this week. But first, Bible. Truth. Our anchor scripture for today is Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah 26:3

Another translation says “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You”. Where does focus come in here? Hang on with me y’all, I’m getting somewhere. In this verse, focus is the prerequisite for peace. Hmm, again, just like Peter. He walked peacefully until his focus shifted. Okay big big side note, we often give Peter a bad rep but geez, he was the only one daring enough to get out of the boat. He honestly deserves a lot more credit than we give him. Anyways, I digress. Actually, no, not really…. Maybe you stepped out of the boat. You dared to do something bold, audacious, and different and things were going great while you were focused on the one who gave you the command…. until you got caught up with the waves. For a brief moment, you couldn’t help but notice the revenue dropped, the following dwindled, the endorsements tanked…. you noticed the waves.

Now hey, don’t listen to that voice trying to condemn you, there’s nothing wrong with you for noticing what is happening around you – If you ask me, that is simply being vigilant. Matter of fact, if you didn’t notice, it would be safe to say that you were being inattentive. However, like a camera, when the focus of the lens shifts, the switch of the item in view happens over a period of time – it is never instant, we went from noticing to fixating. Sometimes that is the result of observing just a microsecond too long. That microsecond may have cost you your peace and sanity. Like me this week, that microsecond gave room for the enemy to try getting a foothold. Now, keyword is try, he didn’t make it that far, he had his toe in the door before I slammed that mug shut! Yep, I just imagined him scream( take that devil lol). I literally felt that dark cloud trying to sit over my head and have me question my worth. But I said Uhn Uhn, Not today Satan (Literally). Before I move on, in my last blog post, I share 3 practical tips the Lord gave me to get up out from under that fog. If you need that, check it out here.

Now back to you. Your focus shifted and in no time anxiety, depression, fear, doubt, low-self worth, self-sabotage, you name the foothold, started to peer in. Now what? Again, all hope is not lost!
Like Peter, what do you do when your shift of focus cost you and you see yourself sinking? Once again, a page from Peter’s book, Cry out to Jesus! This is the start of refocusing.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Mat 14:30

This is what it looks like to Refocus, stop the enemy and his mindgames dead in their tracks. Slam that door by once again, looking to Jesus. One more scripture, Remember Phil 4: 6? One could say that Peter’s cry out to Jesus was a petition. A petition for rescue. A petition that resulted in deliverance – in peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Phil 4:6-7

What am I saying to you beautiful people? On the off chance that you still don’t get the gist, here’s what I’m saying : It’s time for you to refocus. Yes, you have to do some practical things like feed your spirit, redirect your thoughts, etc but start here – Cry out to the one who should have your focus. He’ll help you. The Holy Spirit is a helper. He’s got you. Ask Him. It’s not too late.

There is power in your focus. Leverage it again. Refocus and watch peace come into focus.

I hope this blessed you. You are worth it. You are powerful. You have purpose. Yes, YOU.
I pray this truth will take root in your heart and bear fruit.
Thank you for reading and catch you in the next blog post! Jesus Loves You 💕

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