Finding Your Focus

“I’m not a procrastinator!”

In an effort to keep him from putting things off, my funny guy loves to say this every time I ask him to do a task for me.

The truth is, we are all procrastinators in one way or the other. We choose every minute of every day what we will focus our time and energy on. Sometimes we set out to accomplish big goals, but more often we find ourselves sifting through the daily menial tasks, putting off one thing to do the other.

I try to stay on task by making lists. If I’m honest, it’s not that I’m really super organized–I just love to cross things off my to-do list! My list has lists: One for groceries, then daily lists for tasks that need to be completed soon, and another for things I want to get done eventually.

In order to accomplish this, I must first make a master list–a 2025 calendar. I have been making my own for quite some time because I could never find the perfect one. I need big spaces to write on, and I like to personalize it with a verse to memorize every month and graphics from my own photos–beginning January with the verse I choose to focus on for the whole year. I found myself procrastinating on it because I had not decided on the word and Bible verse I wanted to focus on this year–until it became very clear that “Focus” was to be the word! While I am an introvert who dearly loves routine and am pretty good at staying on task, I came to realize that even though I had trained my mind to focus on the task ahead of me, I would often find myself focusing on the wrong things. Easily distracted by social media or our own selfish desires, we can put a lot of time and energy into trivial things that won’t really matter so much twelve months from now. Hindsight often reveals the truth that when we throw away valuable time on the not-so-important-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things, we, by default, miss out on the bigger, more important things. Anyone else relate?

When I looked back over 2024’s calendar, I found myself crying, smiling and thanking God for the memories. Reflecting on the good and the hard was healthy for me. Life was full of ups and downs, but having eyes that view them through the lens of faith changes how I see each of them. When mama passed away, God was there. He was my peace, my comfort, my confidence–and even joy in knowing that she was in heaven, completely whole again. When I experienced the glorious beauty of Zion National Park, I saw my Creator’s majesty. Often during the year I would experience His love through times with my family. He provided the faith and wisdom and focus I so desperately needed on a mission trip to Panama where I got to see how He is working among the nations, and where I got to personally be involved in seeing lives changed by the gospel message.

Though it wasn’t a major surgery when I had my cataracts removed this last year, it did have a major impact. My eyes had gotten so cloudy that I had come to the decision that I shouldn’t drive after dark until they were fixed. While that might seem minor, having eyes that are out of focus changes everything you do. Not only was it hard to see in the dark, but even in the daytime details were distorted and blurry. The thing is, cataracts don’t happen overnight. It is a gradual progression until you get to the point that you can no longer deny that you aren’t seeing clearly.

I could say that having cataracts removed changed my perspective–but really it was God who opened my eyes to the fact that we do this very same thing in life. Maybe not intentionally, but over time. If we’re not purposeful about it–we lose our focus. We get so busy planning, preparing, dreaming–and making lists that we forget to step back and see the big picture. To reflect. You can glance at a beautiful painting, admiring it for a brief moment–or you can stop and focus on the details, the artistry and the meaning behind it.

Focus will be the word that reminds me to not miss the moments that are in the daily. If all I am focused on is finishing a task or accomplishing something so I can cross it off my list, it might be that I will miss something that is right in front of me. A chance to encourage or to bless. An opportunity to serve or to be kind to someone in need. An open door to something that God wants for me, or maybe just opening a door for someone else. Don’t you see? Those cataracts blocked the light that gave me clear vision. When they removed the haze, it was if the proverbial light bulb came back on, and my focus returned. When we make the choice to focus on what is true, what is good and right and best, God will illuminate the details for us.

Here’s to a clearer, more focused 2025!

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth— testing what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-9

If you would like a copy of my 2025 calendar, just drop me a line, and I will send you a free .pdf –printable on 8.5 x 11 cardstock!

“If we’re going to know God through His Word, we must learn to pay attention and to manually override brains that have been rewired to settle for what’s on the surface”—Erin Davis@reviveourhearts.com