Renewed Focus

Welcome to Faith Connections Friday!

We are in a series for the next several weeks focusing on Psalm 119. If you would like to read ahead, read the entire psalm or a section each week. We are so glad you are here and hope you enjoy the series! Thank you!

The season that this entry is published is Easter. Leading up to Easter, many practice Lent, which is simply the fasting or removal of something to help them focus on the purpose of Easter. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. All of which He did out of pure, complete, unconditional love for you and me. That’s the joy of new life!

The section of focus this week is Psalm 119:81-88.

At the initial reading, it may not seem apparent to connect Lent, or fasting, with this passage. Yet, the last verse in this section, verse 88, is the one that stands out. It speaks about life.

The psalmist asks God to revive, renew, and refresh him. He wants God to give him life. Why? So he can obey God’s Word. Talk about focus!

What does that look like? Refresh how? Revive how?

Usually, it means removing something that will bring back the fervor, the intensity, the joy.

Could there be something that caused him lose focus? If so, what was it?

A habit. A distraction. A new hobby. A work project. Time demands. Kids activities. A strained relationship. Bitterness. Anger. Unforgiveness.

The psalmist knows that he must remove it so he can realign his focus towards and onto God.

If we give careful attention to this verse and ask those questions, something may come to mind.

If there is anything that is causing you to lose focus, would you be willing to fast from it this week so you can focus your attention on the purpose of Easter? On renewing your fervor for God and His Word?

There’s the challenge.

Things can easily distract us from focusing on God’s Word. As we study these passages in Psalm 119, we notice the fervor and intensity the psalmist has to know and love God and obey His Word.

Faith Connections Challenge: After the Easter season, if you chose to challenge yourself to fast from something, consider extending the practice or setting specific times during the year to realign your focus. The more you do so, the more you are renewed and refreshed. You will also notice a renewed focus on God’s Word.