Your Entire Attention

Scripture

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Matthew 6:34 MSG

Thought

We’re about half way through the year 2021 and can you remember what you were worried about in early January? Maybe it’s still in your life, nagging at your peace, gnawing at your spirit. Getting in the way of internal stillness and rest.

But chances are the items that kept us up at night in early January have faded and have been replaced with new fears, new interpretations of what may or may not be coming our way.

It should be noted that the greatest transformational leader in history was concerned about what was happening right now, right in front of him.

It’s as if Jesus knew from experience - where we give our attention, will directly influence our level of anxiety and worry about the future.

In true higher standard fashion, we are encouraged to not just dispel worry about “the future” but rather worry about even the happenings of “tomorrow.”

When our attention stretches 25 hours ahead, it’s likely worry will arrive. If we want to lead in all areas of our life we must give our attention to right now. (The next 24 seconds - to - the next 24 hours).

We’re not being invited into a lifestyle of careless recklessness as if we have no plan for the future, not wanting to be “tied down” to numbers, goals, and success in our craft whether in business or parenting.

Instead, we’re being invited into a lifestyle fully focused on maximizing this day. This set of 24 hours. The next 24 seconds. Full attention on what God is doing now. Because we know if we live a higher standard today and repeat it everyday after, chances are we will end up where we want to be.

The things you fear beyond the next 25 hours could just be paper tigers. And even if they are as bad as you fear they might be…

“God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Call to Action

Fully focus on being present the next 24 hours. If your mind and spirit drift to hour 25, reclaim your attention to the here and now.