Focus on Christ

One of the best parts of watching sports is listening to the post-match interview with the winning team or athlete. I always hear genuine “pearls,” and almost without exception, I hear the word concentration. The Competitive Edge website states that “concentration is the key to athlete excellence.”

Any exceptionally bright student will tell you that their stratospheric results are mainly due to their ability to concentrate. Suppose you pay attention to the performance of the most excellent musicians on the planet. In that case, they, without exception, are intensely focused on what they are singing or playing. I remember attending a concert by one of the best names in classical music today, who is blind. His music’s perfection, harmony, and beauty transposed me to an almost divine experience. I was struck by the level of concentration he used for that performance.

We conclude that success and victory are directly linked to concentration. Most of the time, we immerse ourselves in the wrong focus. For example, when we have a problem, we focus on the issue instead of the solution. So it’s not enough to concentrate but to focus on the right thing.

To develop and maintain a relationship with Christ, we must necessarily focus our thoughts and attention on Him. The noise surrounding us is loud; our modern life makes us impatient. The world and the evil one are constantly trying to attract our attention. So, we need to turn our focus to Christ, or we will find ourselves empty, lost, and confused. The Apostle Paul understood the drama we live to focus on Christ, so he wrote to us: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).

Our lives become very different when we focus on Jesus. Contemplating his beauty, glory, and beauty gives us another meaning. Thinking of him pleases us, brings us clarity, evokes hope, calms our souls, orders our thoughts, dispels our fears, radiates our souls with his beauty, and makes us smell the perfume of his presence. When we focus on His righteous and pure character, our memory reminds us of our sins, inviting us to repent.

When we focus on the marks we have made on his hands, feet, and head, we are guarded by his love. What kind of God is the one who leaves his throne to be nailed to a cross, to be mocked and slapped, to receive in his own body as the punishment that belonged to us with no guarantee that we would accept that sacrifice? Yes, when we meditate on Him, we remember He believed in us before He knew us. He bet everything on you and me. He let them kill him so we could be saved.

As we fix our thoughts on Christ, we realize He is seated on the throne at the Father’s right hand, from where He commands everything. We remember that He is the Almighty; it is He who controls the Universe, it is He who decides which hair will fall from our heads, and it is He who slaughters and raises the Kings and Governments of the earth. He is Lord over all things. This concentration on Him fills us with faith, for we conclude that nothing is impossible for this God.

When we immerse our thoughts in Christ, we realize that He died, rose again, ascended into heaven, and promised to prepare a place for each of His children. This remembrance lifts us and urges us to commit even more to Him. It leads us to the correct perspective that we are in this world as immigrants but that our residence is in heaven, with Christ.

The Psalmist David said, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121: 1-2). That’s it, lifting our eyes and thoughts and fixing our minds on Christ. Everything we need is in Him. He is the owner of all the things we dream of and desire. He is peace, He is healing, He transforms and multiplies anything. Above all, He forgives our sins, bringing us eternal salvation and the joy of living with Him forever.

A friend told me the other day, “I’m concentrating on breathing. As long as I’m breathing, I’ll be alive.” We can go a long way by forgetting Christ, but there will come a time when our spiritual life will perish if we do not focus on Him.

And how do we focus on Christ? Being absent for a little bit of everything that surrounds us, setting aside specific time to think about Him, whether when we walk, drive, or do some task. It is essential that we put this as a priority in our lives and have the daily discipline to exercise it.

If we are filled with joy, we need to focus on Him in gratitude for what He has done for us. If we are sad, troubled, sick, weak, defeated, alone, or desperate, we focus on Him, for “I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2). “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5).

Think of Christ; focus your thoughts only on Him. Focus on his love for you. Meditate on his grace. Look at their wondrous deeds. The Psalmist David says there are delights in his presence. 

Have you thought about Christ today? Comment below and share it with your friends. Thank you. Helia

Think about Christ, focus your thoughts only on Him. Focus on his love for you. Meditate on his grace. Observe his wonderful deeds. Psalmist David says there are delights in his presence.

Have you thought about Christ today? Comment below and share with your friends. Thank you. Helia