Heart Focus

Anita Delene Manthe
Oct 7, 2017
3 min read

Moving on and growing stronger in our walk will not happen without a determined mindset. Furthermore, our mindset and heart focus will not remain fixed if we do fortify our faith daily – every day! Feeding our faith – reading the Word of God, praying, meditating – is absolutely necessary to walking strong in and through anything. We must prioritize. It is essential. Without doing this, we will flounder and set ourselves up for failure.

This can happen to you, and it can happen to me when we do not establish priorities. Please, please heed this warning. It is time to take your profession of knowing the Lord seriously!

You may claim to know the warning is valid, that you are aware of its necessity, but then you’ll rationalize your circumstances. Rationalizing is really just another way for you to seek approval – you want others to agree – your circumstances don’t allow for more than what you are already doing. You’re doing what you need to do to get life done – your way! Rationalization begs for affirmation!

You will explain, your life is so very filled with many responsibilities and you’re simply overwhelmed. You have no time. You are exhausted. You’re pressed, and weighted down. If this reads as familiar to you, and you can identify in some way, even just a little, with this … it is time to examine your life, and your heart. Where is your focus?

Keep a log of how and where you spend the moments of your day from the time you awaken, ‘til you go to bed.
Do this for at least a week
Be truthful about time allocations
How much time did you spend with electronic media (entertainment) – Facebook, browsing the internet, television, etc.?
What was your heart focus in some of the non-essential moments, especially time interacting with electronic media?
What purpose does social media serve? Does it pacify, does it provide an excuse for busyness?
What should you stop doing? List the activities you need to break away from.
What should you start doing? Write out replacement activities to facilitate change.
Ensure your replacement activities feed your soul.
Be practical.
Be purposeful.
Be proactive.
Pray!

The above exercise is intended to help you examine your life, and where your true priorities are found. We all go through seasons where complications can affect us, however, when we have determined to prioritize and hold fast to the most essential and important value – it remains constant. We always make time for what and who we love. Our heart focus ensures we do?

When the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away (Matthew 13:6).
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes (Psalm 119:11-12).
His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers (Psalm 1:2-3).