Let’s face it, we are not as good at multitasking as we think we are. If we are trying to carry on a conversation while writing or anything else, the person on the other end of our conversation experiences neglect, for sure. Instead of trying to do two or more things at once, why not live in the moment of what we are doing, where we are, and with whom we are? It’s called being focused.
Isaiah 50:7 (ESV) — 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
The scripture above is a foretaste of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of how many directions He could have been pulled at the same time, had he not had this laser-like focus to do the Father’s will.
John 6:38–39 (ESV) — 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
John 4:34 (ESV) — 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
The practice of living in the moment begins with knowing then keeping to your purpose in life. When interruptions come, if you know your focus you will be diligent to sort things so that you will not give into the “tyranny of the urgent” for the sake of your purpose. It’s part of the process of “redeeming” or making the best use of your time and efforts and that takes divine wisdom.
Ephesians 5:14–17 (ESV) — 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Isn’t that an appropriate address to all of us as we tend to be asleep on some commonsense principles of life about getting the most of life by being focused, instead of being like the ball in a pinball machine tossed here and there. Interesting then how the Scriptures speak to that in connection with wisdom because wisdom from above is what we need to handle the call of distraction that seems to be everywhere and increasing all the time.
James 1:5–8 (ESV) — 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Notice how the invitation to get wisdom is generous and clear. If you lack it, seek God for it. However, there is a “but” – special requirement. If you want wisdom from God, then ask Him, but don’t play pinball with Him. Ask in faith with no doubt. That means you ask Him and believe Him and quit trying to do things on your own. It also means as He gives you clear direction, don’t wait to follow that direction. Just do it!
Go back to the supreme example of the Lord Jesus Christ and think of how He could have been distracted from doing the will of His Father by giving into the boundless requests from the needs of the people. Granted He healed, He fed, and He preached to countless, but He was focused on His mission of presenting an undeniable testimony of being the Son of God and His laser focus on dying for our sins on the cross, so much so when one of His disciples, namely Peter, tried to distract Him, He made it clear to Peter that he was not to discourage Him from the mission.
Matthew 16:21–25 (ESV) — 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Notice how Jesus went from His focus to the instruction for the focus of His disciples as well as us. If we are going to serve the Lord Jesus Christ acceptably, it takes laser focus on Him which means we are not distracted by anything. That takes the discipline of self-denial, and of being willing to bear whatever is necessary to follow Him. That is living in the moment.
Let’s get practical on living in the moment. It begins by deciding what is important, and setting priorities. That means your priorities become the means for setting your daily schedule and how you prioritize your “to do” list. In this day of “instant communication” we often give way to distractions from texts, emails, social media posts, and the like, then wonder why we are not able to get done what we have said is important. It’s OK to turn things off and limit those distractions for a certain time and your consumption of those things to a given amount of time each day. Just look at your weekly report of your screen time and think about how much of that screen time was for personal entertainment and what was really necessary.
Living in the moment means you make sure you are in the moment when you meet with another person. It’s sad to see people meeting together and giving all appearances of conversing with one another, yet both are constantly looking at and being distracted by their phones. When is the last time you gave your undivided attention to your spouse, friend, or co-worker? This means when talking to another person you make eye contact, which is another indication that you are in the moment or not. Reports are alarming regarding how few people make eye contact today. The biggest reason, reports say, has to do with the on-line meetings in which you can appear to be paying attention but in reality are doing other things. In other words, online meetings do not promote living in the moment unless you are disciplined to give your undivided attention to the meeting and push aside distractions to do other things while the meeting is conducted. (Very few people can say that is their standard.)
It takes discipline to live in the moment, but the result is a focused life that is more productive and happier because you are paying attention to relationships. It takes discipline to shut down the inner voice that is constantly calling out for something better, different, or exciting because that call is not for your good but only for a temporary fix which will not last.
Live in the moment. You’ll be a better person.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
