Day 3

If you’ve ever tried to talk to someone who is distracted, you know how challenging a conversation like that can be. Distractions disrupt intimacy, but focus and intentionality cultivate it. That’s why one of the most important keys to drawing close to God is to set your thoughts on Him. This is a conscious choice to focus your attention on Him at the start of your day. It’s about prioritizing His Voice, His Presence, His Will, His Words.

Colossians 3:1–2 says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” That doesn’t mean you throw away your to-do list because you only think about Heaven. It means you set it aside so you can focus on God, and it means that when you pick the list back up, you see it through the filter of God’s Goodness and Presence.

To set your sights on God is to focus your first thoughts in the morning on Him. It is to intentionally align your mental focus in a specific direction. Your initial thoughts upon waking are not meant to obsess over worldly concerns but to turn toward Heavenly things, toward Jesus.

I often say, “Give God your best even when you feel your worst.” The best part of your day is the first part of your day because that is what sets the direction for the rest of it. Even if you feel half asleep and need a second cup of coffee just to focus, dedicating the first part of your day to God will help establish your inner priorities and set the course for the rest of your day, which will ultimately change your life.

Right now, take a few minutes to set your thoughts, emotions, priorities, goals, and plans on things above. Intentionally expand your perspective of your world to include God’s Heavenly Perspective. Decide to shift your focus from what you can see to what God can see. Open your heart and your schedule to His Divine Transformation.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does it mean to you to “set your sights” on Heavenly Things? What are some of those Things?
2. How does thinking about Heavenly Things affect how you deal with earthly things?
3. What areas of your life are distracting you the most right now? How could you turn them over to God and see them through His Eyes?