Singular Focus

We all like to multitask. This seems to help us get a lot of things done in a faster amount of time. We’ll even multitask when talking with people. It is common to see people texting one person and having verbal conversation with another. Our minds drift and at the end of the day, doesn’t it seem as if we did not get as much completed as we wanted to?

As a pastor, one of the things I try (key word: “try”) to do is spend a little bit of time each day in silence and just focusing on one thing. Now, I understand there are people out in our society that do not think there is enough time in the day to spend in quiet. Or there is too much noise. Or they (we) try to be busy for the sake of busyness. For all people who tell me they do not have time to spend apart, or take time out of their day for mediation or daily devotional so, I tell them I understand!

Family responsibilities (my wife and children take time), church responsibilities, social responsibilities. I almost feel like I’d have to wake up at 3:00 am everyday just to squeeze in 30 minutes of devotional or reflection time. Well, I know myself and I know getting up that early is not going to happen. Instead, I have a calendar item that simply says “God.” This is set from 7:00am – 7:30am each day.

Do I always make this commitment? No. But this is a good reminder, for me, that my focus at the beginning of the day should be on Jesus Christ. The reason I have this scheduled for the morning part of the day is that I know I will not be diligent and take time in the middle of the day to pause and devote in silence.

Back to multitasking. There are studies that show people are actually less productive when they multitask. Right now, as I am writing this post, I am also helping my wife at church. I have to pause writing every now and then to make sure I’m doing what she needs me to do, proving it is challenging to multitask. 

We have so much to do and so little time to do it (so we think). We all have the same amount of time, 24 hours. In a world of computers, tablets, smartphones, etc, we try to actually fit too much into our day. And how are our emotions? I have found that anxiety runs high because I have many tasks to attempt to accomplish daily. If I only allowed one thing to do at a time, I know it would get done at a much higher quality than if I let 10 or more tasks get scheduled at the same time.

How does this relate to taking time each day and devote it to Jesus Christ? Well, Jesus Christ should be our singular focus. When we only look to Him, the work we do, no matter what it is, gets done for His honor and glory.

“Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭CEB‬‬

I challenge you, and me, with the task to schedule time each day on your calendar, and keep it. Our focus, if kept on Christ reminds us why we do what we do and gives the work we do a grand purpose.

Grace and peace with you.