How to Become More Focused and Preoccupied with Christ

We live in a day and age of constant distractions. So many things steal our attention from the most important things in life—relationships, ministry, and most of all God. The tyranny of the urgent prevails! Even as I was trying to compose this blog, I got pulled away by a technology glitch. I got caught up in the details—again and lost my focus! Ugh!

You and I get so preoccupied with stuff—our possessions, problems, opinions of others, appearance, and of course our to-do list, especially this time of year! These are all self-focused.

But I don’t want to be that way! Perhaps you don’t either. I want to think about Christ so much that I can’t think about anything or anyone else which doesn’t include Him. I want to be so preoccupied with Christ that:

All trials are seen in the light of His will and purpose.
All of my desires are subservient to His; yet knowing His ways are best
I am not so easily distracted by this world.
When my emotions begin to take control, I quickly recognize it and hand over the reins back to Christ.
When my needs don’t seem to be met, the truth of Scripture comes racing back into my mind so I can rest in God’s provision.
When faced with temptation I remember the cross and His power to say no.
I am aware God is with me every moment.
Everything I say and do brings glory to God.

God wants this too! So how do we stop being engulfed and overwhelmed with life?

How do we become more focused and preoccupied with Christ rather than self?

D.L. Moody gives us the answer when he asked his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” ^[i]

Answer: you fill it with water.

How do you get your old sinful self out of the picture?

Fill it with the Holy Spirit.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ… (Col 2:9-10)

God wants to permeate every aspect of our being so that there is less and less room for the old sinful nature—where its influence decreases, and His new divine nature within us becomes more dominant.

This is a life-long pursuit, but to get you started here are…

5 ways to help you become more preoccupied (filled) with Christ:

Choose to

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col 1:1-2, emphasis added; see also Heb 3:1; Heb 12:2)

You can train your brain to focus. Every time you become aware of a negative thought, replace it with God’s truth. Over time, it’ll become easier to exercise your “will muscle.”

Feed your new nature and starve your old nature by reading God’s Word and applying it (includes obeying).

Surrender and remain yielded to God so as not to quench the Holy Spirit. (1 Thes 5:19)

Fall in love with your Savior by continuing to learn more about Him.

…To know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:19)

It’s easy to be enraptured by someone you love.

Lastly my friend, you can become more preoccupied with Christ by simply

Asking God to help you

Will you pray this along with me?

O Lord, empty me of me and fill me with You. I want to be preoccupied with You in every way; with every part of my being; with my heart, soul, mind, emotions, will, and desires under Your complete control. I want the fullness of Christ to be so evident in my life that others will see Your Glory manifested in me.

Helpful Resources
An Exercise to Help You Exercise Your Will “Muscle” and Enjoy It!
Submission: A Beautiful Word
Surrender Part 3: What Does “Dying to Self” Mean?
How Can We Love God with All of Our Being

[i] http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=173&d=1&c=1&p=1