What is Focus?
The noun form “speaks to a specific direction, a guiding motivation in direction”.
As a verb, “focus takes action, intentional adjustment for distinct vision to achieve clarity”.
“Distinct vision” is specific or set apart from the blur of life.
Clearing the blur to facilitate a “distinct vision” for a life direction can be difficult. Most of my life I have had blurry vision, a near sightedness, that required corrective lenses or surgery in order to see with clarity. It takes an intentional action of adjustment to “cure” the distortion of myopic eyes. But what about the eyes of our heart?
In scripture the expression – the eyes of the heart is interpreted as meaning spiritual disposition or perception or a singleness of motive*. The eyes focus the heart, which is the essence of the person.
The focus, the motivation, disposition or perception of the eyes of the heart has an impact on the whole person. The Good news is we can choose how the eyes of our heart will focus. Do we know the condition of the eyes of our heart? Are they squinty, full of doubt and darkness or open wide to let in the Light?
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (NET)
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! (The Message)
Fear of; failure, being unlovable, rejection, being inadequate, not good enough and a host of other fears creates a filter over the eyes of our heart. This fear filter blurs our focus and hampers a distinct vision and motivation for the life direction we choose. We can take corrective action to clear away this fear filter.
It requires of us, an intentional action of adjustment by “setting our minds” (Colossians 3:2) and “fixing our thinking and practicing” (Philippians 4:8-9) on God’s light of truth. Allowing His truth to adjust our focus is a choice.
The choice to allow our eyes to be exposed to God’s light is a step of faith away from fear. Choosing to open the eyes of our hearts to a fresh curiosity of wonder and seeking to understand the character of the love of the Divine Father can set us free from fear. A fearless focus gives us clarity to claim the truth of God’s love; lighting our path of life.
*International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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