Discern one word for guidance throughout the coming year. This is our annual January challenge in the Wednesday morning men’s Bible study I attend. I engage in this exercise with some reservation, for our call as believers is to offer ourselves entirely to the Spirit, who speaks in real-time, each word vital in the moment. But looking back at my words for the past three years — “listen,” “trust,” and “go,” — I must admit they coalesce nicely into a cohesive summary of the Christian walk. So, I have chosen my word for 2025, and that word is . . .
“Focus.”
Which immediately begs the question: Focus on what? Personally, I feel called to focus on our heavenly destination, which consumes increasingly more of our field of vision as we continually stride toward it. Paul writes to the Colossians, “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. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”1 Then as we near our final destiny, that which is important becomes clearer, and that which is not becomes clutter. Sense the passion of the Hebrews epistolarian as he exhorts us: “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith . . .”2 Can you feel his intensity, his laser focus on what eternally matters?
Then what does it mean to live in upward focus? Continuing his letter to the Colossian church, Paul explains what it means “to set our hearts and minds on things above.” It means putting on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. It means forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven us. It means putting on love, which bears the fruit of harmony. It means letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and to be thankful.3 Would you agree?
Then let’s pray for ourselves and each other as Paul prayed for the church.4 Father, fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that Your Spirit gives, so that we may live a life worthy of You and please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of You, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to You, who have qualified us to share in the inheritance of Your holy people in the kingdom of light. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 Colossians 3:1-3 NIV
2 Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
3 Colossians 3:12-15
4 Colossians 1:10-12 NIV
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Paul Nordman—Author 