The POWER of an Undistracted Focus

In Dr. Brian Simmons’ beautiful rendition of Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary’s home, his Passion Translation of the Bible states:

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha, and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, ‘Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.’

The Lord answered her, ‘Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.’”
—Luke 10:38–42

We need to rediscover what it means to be undistracted. To redesign our churches and lives to give ourselves to the “most important thing” — sitting “down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation He” shares.

Recently, as part of a journaling exercise, I began to note on a large flipchart every miracle or evidence of God’s Kingdom coming that I had ever seen in my own life. With small scribbles, I listed down along half a dozen columns: miracle after miracle. From miraculous provision to uncannily accurate prophecies, from legs growing several inches to open visions, emptied wheelchairs, and lives saved. Even the BBC had reported some of the miracles, while other TV crews found themselves healed as they visited our church!

With two-thirds of the large flipchart sheet filled, I was deeply encouraged and reminded of many of the things God had done for me. Next, I pondered what to do with the empty third of my large sheet of paper. After a few moments considering, I chose to begin listing every period of remarkable encounter, extended times of prayer and fasting, seasons of focused intercession, and prolonged times of giving myself privately to God’s presence.

As the paper began filling out with amazing headlines from dedicated times of seeking God’s face and favour, a pattern began to emerge before me on the page. Each time of deeper devotion on the bottom third of my flipchart paper had resulted in the greater manifestations of the Kingdom on the top half of my sheet. Greater encounters had repeatedly led to greater expressions of God. Each miracle season had been pre-empted by a choice to dig deeper into God through prayer.

How thick had I been?! It’s simple. It’s biblical. It’s obvious. Pray more, and more stuff happens!

As my friend Ian Christensen often says, “Much prayer, much power. Little prayer, little power. No prayer, ……”

He usually leaves the congregation to fill in the final blank.

An extract for The Divine Reset & Beyond: Order Your Copy HERE.

I will not be consumed by distractions or weighed down by busyness, but I will sit at the feet of Jesus, like Mary, choosing the one thing that is needed. “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

I declare that my heart will not be anxious or troubled like Martha, but at rest in the presence of my Saviour. I fix my eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of my faith” (Hebrews 12:2). I choose to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that all other things will be added unto me (Matthew 6:33).

Today, I will quiet the noise, resist distraction, and lean into the voice of my Lord. His presence is my portion, my peace, and my delight.

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