Focusing on God has specific results in our lives. In fact any kind of focus leads to outcomes based upon what you focus on. Choose where your focus will be, and many success experts says that you will have greater results when you know what your goals are and when you focus on them.
That is one reason I am taking some time this week to share with you about focus. Beginning next Monday I will be taking an extended period of time away from church and ministry to focus on some key things. I will be focusing on my relationship with God and spending quality time with my family.
I will be unplugging from much of social media, choosing to pour time and energy in to strengthening our family relationships, working on my walk with God as well as planning for the future, and finally, soaking up as much as can from God.
That really is focus. Here are some verses from John 15 that speak directly to why this type of focus is important…
John 15 NLT
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more… 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing… 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father… 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
The specific time I am taking away is called a sabbatical. A sabbatical is best described as a time where you remove yourself from business and busyness to spend time in the presence of the Lord. Literally it is a time to “remain” in the presence of God and of those in your family. That is my definition.
So from these verses…
… spend time with the gardener, God.
… allow Him to prune you for more fruit bearing.
… remain in Him and Him in you, again for more fruit.
… remaining with the Father proves that you are His disciple and gives you opportunity to communion with the Father.
… these times are not for a servant or a hired person, but for someone closer like a friend.
… recognize that God chose us and made us to bear fruit for His glory.
There is an end in mind. Therefore, starting next Monday I will be unplugging from sharing and serving so I can go deeper with the Lord. Won’t you pray for me and for my family during this time?
“Spend plenty of time with God; let other things go, but don't neglect Him. We are not here to do work for God, we are here to be workers with Him, those through whom He can do His work.” - Oswald Chambers
“Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.”
― Charles Spurgeon
I am excited about the coming days and looking forward to growing closer to God and to my family. I will share more later this week!
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