Where is Your Focus Today?

1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3 NIV).

Solomon wrote, “The tongue has the power of life and death. . . .” (Proverbs 18:21 NIV). We all know the truth of that statement. What we say has powerful consequences. Psychologist tell us that it takes 10 positive remarks to off-set the damage of one negative remark. You’ve heard about the pessemist club haven’t you? They have never met because they were convinced that no one would ever come!

Many live their lives with negativity. No matter how good things may be, they will always find the proverbial fly in the ointment and focus on that. Such people are draining, emotionally and spiritually. They will bring you down in a heart-beat.

Now, those who are “amening” this, let me ask you, where is your focus? Are you like David who exalts the Lord in every circumstance or are you like those who exalt the problem, turning mole-hills into insurmoutable mountains? Is the praise of God constantly on your lips or is your focus on the complaints you have against God?

Here’s what I know: those who learn to focus on the good things (keeping their eyes always upon our good and gracious God) always have something to rejoice about. Not only do they lift their own spirits from the pits of despair, but others who are afflicted are lifted as well (see verse 2 of our text).

The foot-note of the Life application Bible says, “God promises great blessings to his people, but many of these blessings require active participation. He will deliver us from fear (34:4), save us from our troubles (34:6), guard and deliver us (34:7), show us goodness(34:8), supply our needs (34:9), listen when we talk to Him (34:15), and redeem us (34:22), but we must do our part . . . .”

What is our part? We must appropriate his blessings and we can only do that by keeping Him before us at all times and praising Him for His goodness and grace. Focus on the things around you and you will become negative. Focus on God and you will soar!