Dear writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered your role as a gatekeeper of God’s glory through the gift of writing He’s given you. This week, we’re going to take a look at one of the biggest keys to fulfilling that role. That key is focus.
You see, writer, we live in a era with an unprecedented amount of inputs streaming into our lives and voices demanding to be heard. Not to mention countless events taking place every day that could alarm us if we let them. But here’s the thing…
This is the very reason we’ve been appointed as gatekeepers. God has messages of truth, peace, and clarity He longs to release to overcome the chaos. Maintaining our focus can help us release His grace and glory to a world that desperately needs it.
Focus in History
Paul Revere is a great example of a man who remained focused. During his famous midnight ride to warn colonists of British invasion in Concord, Paul had many distraction and run-ins with British soldiers. But Paul stayed the course even after capture, effectively sounding the alarm along the way and averting the capture of the colonists’ spare munitions and of their leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. The Revolutionary war would have had a more precipitous start, if it had not been for Revere’s persistence.
Focus in the Bible
The Apostle Paul is another great example of a man who overcame distractions. Paul persevered in ministering in the city of Philippi in spite of continual harassment by fortune-telling servant girl. When Paul finally paused his ministry to deliver her from her spiritual oppression and was sent to jail, Paul still persisted in witnessing for the Gospel. As a result, the Philippian jailer and his entire family were saved.
You see, writer, focus is about recognizing what are and what are not truly obstacles to our God-given work and goals. Paul realized jail could not stop the Gospel, and so jail did not dampen Paul’s witness. In a similar way, many of the difficulties we face cannot actually disqualify our writing. In fact, when we lean into the Lord, those very obstacles can serve to catapult our work forward.
Focus in Life
I nearly lost focus when I was writing my first book and caring for my dying uncle—a self-professed atheist. As things grew more difficult, he asked me to do more and more tasks that he could do but weren’t easy. Because I wanted to show Him the love of Christ, I did more and more, never sure when it was enough. But my help—instead of lightening my uncle’s heart—seemed only to add to his discontentment.
At last, God arrested my attention with a strong message about boundaries and showed me that I was more interested in “appearing loving” to my uncle than in taking the action he truly needed—which was to allow him to maintain responsibility where he was able and give him a sense of purpose. And I’d been more interested in “appearing loving” than in obeying God to finish my book.
Though it was difficult, I drew a boundary line and to my surprise—my uncle did indeed grow more content and grateful, not less. When he passed, our relationship was strong, and my book was finished.
Focus in Your Life
You see, writer, it’s important to know God’s priorities for us. There are many things that, in our eyes, may feel urgent or even important. In my mind, what could have been more important than a dying uncle? But God knows exactly what each person and situation needs. If we want to be gatekeepers of His grace and glory it’s important to make His wisdom and insight is informing our plans. Let me show you…
- Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:15-17
- Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
You see, writer, the key to overcome the distraction and noise of our era lies in maintaining a strong connection to the Lord and renewing our minds to see from His perspective. When we lean into His wisdom and allow His word to be the final authority, it gives us the strength we need to stand at our post as gatekeepers.
Where to Start with Focus
So are ready to sharpen your focus as a gatekeeper? Here are some things to keep in mind…
- Know Your Call. In order to maintain focus in these times, it’s critical to know specifically what God has called you to do and what His priorities are in this season for you. I encourage you if you have not yet, to prayerfully review your current commitments and bring them before Him to ask for His wisdom. Then write those thoughts down and continue to seek His guidance as you rank the priorities He’s showing you in order of importance.
- Identify Distractions. Once you know your call and God’s priorities for you in this season, consider what the biggest obstacles have been to that call. Prayerfully consider what role those obstacles should have in your life—if any—and ask God for His grace to overcome and make a plan to remove them.
- Invest in the Vision. Once you know clearly your call from God, invest in that calling daily. Pray for it, and those you need to reach. Imagine what it will look like when this word from God is fulfilled in your life and how it will transform your readers. Look for small action steps you can take as you begin to invest in God’s priorities for your life. You will begin to build vision and momentum that will help you overcome distractions.
You see, writer, here’s the thing. Often we try to cut distractions out of our life only to find them springing up in some other place. But here’s the thing. Distraction is often simply the outgrowth of a lack of vision. When we begin to grab hold of a clear vision from God many of life’s distractions begin to lose their allure.
Just like Paul Revere’s passion for his country kept him fixed on his goal amidst very real obstacles and threats. Just like the apostle Paul’s vision of Christ’s supremacy gave him strength to stand strong even in prison. Just like my vision of God’s purposes in my life and my uncles’ gave me the strength to make difficult choices that were best for both of us. And here’s the delightful thing: in each of these instances, that clarity of vision carried not only both Pauls and me through difficulty, but it carried others along with us too. And here the final thought…
As we allow God’s wisdom to help us focus and grow His vision in us in this season, not only will it cause us to stand strong as voices and vessels of God’s glory and peace the midst of chaos, It can create a current of His strength that grounds others in His truth, purposes, and goodness, too.
So , I encourage you today, to take some time to let God grow your focus this weekend know that His vision will strengthen you as His gatekeeper and fling wide the doors of His vision to transform others too.
#focus #vision #gatekeeper #EveryWriterWriting
