One Thing – A Remedy for Overwhelm: A Candid Moment

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18 ESV


Do you feel like you’re in a constant state of overwhelm with all the things you think you should do? They say that just because it’s a good idea, doesn’t mean it’s a God idea, but how do you know what to focus on and when to let go?

I’ve been chasing disappearing shiny objects for years and getting nothing but a headache. But that’s changing since I read “The One Thing” by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. In chapter two, they discussed the domino effect of focusing on one thing at a time, the one thing that will make everything else on your to-do list unnecessary. If you focus on that one thing, then everything else you need or desire most will fall into place, just like dominoes.

Jesus’ One Thing

As I prayed over this, I remembered a mind map study I did on Luke 4:18-19 where Jesus announced that He is the long-awaited Savior – you know – right before the village tried to throw Him off a cliff.

As I studied Jesus’ own ministry mission statement, I learned that of all the reasons Jesus came to earth, the primary reason was to free us from the bondages of sin. His “one thing,” pointed to the cross. Everything else He accomplished was eternal, divine dominoes.

I’ve often written that Jesus is all things and can do all things, and this is true. But it all started with one thing: the cross.

Jesus is all things and can do all things, but it all started with one thing: the cross. Click To Tweet

Are you working on so many things that you’re finishing nothing? The Bible says that we were created for a purpose, not many purposes, but a purpose. I invite you to ask Jesus what your one thing is and what you should do first.

Jesus, thank you for your focus in fulfilling your purpose, to save me from my own sin. Please show me what my purpose is, how I may best serve the Father like You did. Please help me to focus and to follow You one step at a time. Amen.

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Candid Moments devotions are about showing you what real life and real faith looks like, so you know you are not alone. It’s about giving you permission to candid about your tears, your tantrums, and your prayers. It’s about showing you what to do when you just need a little bit of Jesus. Available on Amazon.

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