Flexibly Focused

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

“My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.”

Psalm 26:12 HCSB

We can so easily get bogged down in our days — especially when things don’t go exactly our way. It’s easy to believe that we can’t accomplish what we had planned because of these sudden changes.

Maybe it’s our belief that we can’t do it perfectly, or that the “right moment” has passed us by. When we’re worried about what’s not going well, we lose our focus on the task at hand. In times like these, it pays to be flexibly focused.

Our minds need to be flexible, just like our bodies.

An article from uclahealth.org states, “If the muscles in your feet are weak, your feet are less stable. Unstable feet make for a wobbly foundation. An unstable base affects your balance and increases your risk of falling or other injuries.” (“Simple exercises for healthy feet”, Dec. 17, 2024)

Similarly, if our minds are not able to be both flexible and focused, we won’t be able to handle life’s changes easily, making us unsteady and more likely to fall short on our plans.

Life is lived in both the intentional moments and the interruptions. If we live intentionally in those times of interruption, we can be more like Jesus. 

While on His way to teach, Jesus stopped to feed the hungry, heal a bleeding woman, and cure a blind man. In these moments, He helped those in need and then continued on to do His other activities. He was not frustrated by the change in plans, but answered the calls in a loving way.

Let us strive to live more like Him, allowing every opportunity to be a part of our life’s mission.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for directing our steps. Please help us to course-correct and keep You as our a firm foundation. Allow us to view the interruptions not as distractions, but as opportunities in our mission field. May we then return to our other activities with even more focus and passion as we learn to honor You in all the things we do. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Journal: How do you make your plans? How do you handle the interruptions? Ask the Lord how you can be more flexibly focused.