Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Psalm 86:11-17 (NRSV)

Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your serving girl.
Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

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Reflect

It is so easy to let things distract us from what we need to be doing. Since you are reading this eVotion, you are already online, which brings a million possibilities for distraction. How much do we need to hear this ancient prayer of the psalmist today? How many of us wish for an undivided heart to worship? Even during worship things distract us from our worship. Which song is next? I hope that child uses a tissue. Whose cell phone just beeped? I hope the children don’t get candy at the end of the children’s time; it will be stuck in the carpet before the closing hymn. Is that person sleeping through the sermon?

How lucky we are to serve a God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God grants us mercy and grace even when our hearts are divided. God helps and comforts us. God remains loving and faithful to us even when we are not. God hears our prayers and helps us to worship in a focused way. Teach us your ways, O God!

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Pray

O God, my God, thank you for your faithfulness to me. As the psalmist said, “give me an undivided heart.” May my heart and mind be focused on you. Guard me against distractions and those things that would take away from my single purpose of glorifying you in worship and in my daily life. Amen.

Go with God.