Dear Ministry Friends,

For me, staying focused on the right things can be a battle. I struggle with distractions.

I list my priorities. I start my day. I stay busy. I get sidetracked. I end my day. I forgot I had a list.

Staying focused can be tough when life is pulling us in many different directions. Yet I do better staying focused in my daily work than in my daily perspective. In the midst of all that is happening in our nation, especially economically, don’t you find it tough to keep God’s perspective?

As I shared in chapel this past week, I have been convicted about an inordinate waste of mental and emotional energy by my focusing on current events with a wrong perspective. During my daily quiet time last week, I discovered how bad it had gotten when I asked myself the following questions:

1. Am I spending as much time talking to God about President Obama as I am to others?
2. Am I as upset over the consequences of our nation’s sin as I am the consequences of our nation’s economy?
3. Am I as disturbed over the lack of God’s presence as I am the lack of godly people in places of influence?
4. Am I spending as much time trying to understand the ways of God through the Good News as I am the ways of man through the media?
5. Am I as motivated to figure out how to meet the needs of others as I am in trying to figure out how to meet my own needs?
6. Am I content to live the rest of my life materially poor in order to make others spiritually rich?
7. Have my prayer life and spiritual walk been such that I can expect God to supernaturally protect me if our nation experiences severe anarchy, chaos, and lawlessness?
8. Do I spend as much time sharing what I learned from the Scriptures each day as I do sharing what I learned about current events that day?

The final question posed by the Lord was simply, “Is this crisis making you more like Me?” I had to acknowledge that it was drawing me away from focused time in His presence, from Scripture memory, and from fervent prayer. From Him!

What we focus on is what we become. I was being kept informed, but I was not being transformed into His likeness.

This is Lent season. A growing number of Christian technophiles are fasting . . . from Facebook, Twitter, and blogging. Maybe they're on to something . . . even good things can distract from the Best.

Focusing on Him together,

Byron
Executive Director
Life Action Ministries

Please join us in praying

A strategic week is upon us. Please join us in focused prayer for these wonderful ministry opportunities.

• Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . ROH broadcast recording at our National Ministry Center

• Thursday . . . . . . . . . . .  Semi-annual Board of Directors meeting in Texas

• Thursday – Sunday . . . .  19th annual Vision Gathering in San Antonio

• Friday – Sunday . . . . . . . Living Intentionally . . . LAM ladies' retreat at camp

• Sunday Evening . . . . . . . Senior Leadership Team meeting in San Antonio