The Power of Focus in a World of Distractions

This year, as I gear up to celebrate my 60th trip around the sun, I am looking forward to being more intentional with what I put on my plate. The world we live in is brimming with distractions. Everywhere we turn, something is vying for our attention, pulling us in a hundred different directions. Whether it’s the buzz of notifications, the endless stream of information, or the pressures of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters.

For me, that’s no truer than during our Emergency Inclement Weather Response during which I am flooded with stimuli and heightened stress, a recipe of pressing priorities, each more important to the person asking than the rest. It’s a period that ushers forth an intense sense of hyper-vigilance, trust, and presence.

As I step into 2025, my spiritual word for the year is focus.

Focus is more than just paying attention. It’s about aligning our heart, mind, and spirit with what God has placed before us. It’s about prioritizing His will over the noise of the world. In Colossians 3:2, Paul writes, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This verse serves as a reminder to fix our gaze on eternal truths rather than fleeting distractions.

Colossians 3:2 NLT

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

For me, focus means:

1. Being Present: Fully engaging in the moment, whether it’s through prayer, serving others, or spending time with loved ones. For instance, Terri and I are committed to Sunday morning breakfast with her folks.
2. Tuning Out the Noise: Identifying what hinders my spiritual growth and learning to say no to things that don’t align with my purpose. There’s a lot on my plate. I need to pick what’s nourishing versus what’s occupying time and space.
3. Deepening My Faith: Seeking God daily through His Word, trusting Him to guide my steps, and committing to spiritual disciplines that nurture my relationship with Him. The more I am in the Word, the closer I am to Him.

Focus isn’t always easy—it requires intention and perseverance. I believe through cultivating our focus, we can experience greater clarity, peace, and purpose in our walk with the Lord.

FOCUS
noun

fo·​cus

 | \ ˈfō-kəs  \

plural foci \ ˈfō-ˌsī , also -ˌkī  \also focuses

• 1a: a center of activity, attraction, or attention//the focus of the meeting was drug abuse//put immigration into focus as a hot topic for commentatorsb: a point of concentration
• 2: directed attention : EMPHASIS//The focus is on helping the homeless.
• 3a: DIRECTION sense//the team lost focus b: a state or condition permitting clear perceptionor understanding//tried to bring the issues into focus c: adjustment for distinct vision also : the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image.
• Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary

What distractions are pulling you away from God? What would it look like to focus on Him more in 2025?

Let’s journey together this year, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Hebrews 12:2 NLT

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Grace and peace,

Rainer Bantau—The Devotional Guy™