Unshakeable

The Main Thing

‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.’ — John 4:34

Distractions. We all face them on a daily basis. Whether they’re relatively harmless or destructive, God wants us to resist them and keep the main thing the main thing — fulfilling our purpose.

None of us wants to live a life where we can say we have done many things but not the one thing God assigned us.

We want to cultivate a habit of focus, and the motivation that comes from a clear vision. We want the grit to complete our task, and the guts to say no when we need to. Extraordinary accomplishments in the kingdom of God are rarely happenstance. They result from our daily choices and everyday actions. But we must decide to be single-minded and focused on the task He’s given us. I cringe to think of the great works for God that were never finished because people grew distracted from their purpose.

Determine in your heart today to stay focused so you can finish well what God has called you to do. He promises to instruct you on the way you should go and to guide you as you follow Him (Psalm 32:8).

Lord God, please show me which tasks You have for me, and thank You for strength as I persevere and complete those tasks.

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Your Great Project

I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you? — Nehemiah 6:3

If you are committed to the work God has given you, you’ll find it easier to say no to any lesser thing. You’ll be able to focus on your mission and say no to distractions — just as Nehemiah did.

Nehemiah and his men had begun the formidable task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem that had been destroyed by the Babylonians. He faced opposition and ridicule, but he was determined to finish this assignment God had given him. When his enemies invited him to meet with them, they hoped they could make Nehemiah stop his work.

But Nehemiah was committed to what God had called him to do. He would not be sidetracked or tricked into coming down. Nehemiah wouldn’t engage in petty debates or get involved in any activity that would take him away from his God-given task to rebuild the walls.

What pressures and tactics are coming at you today? What’s keeping you from working on your “great project”? Ask God for discernment and guidance, and with His wisdom, determine which things you won’t stop for. Then you can say:

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. — Psalm 16:8 NASB

Lord, it is a privilege to be given work that makes a difference for Your kingdom. Show me how to keep my focus!

Excerpted from Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Strength in God’s Word by Christine Caine.