{"id":88400,"date":"2025-07-03T14:45:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T19:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=88400"},"modified":"2025-07-03T14:45:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T19:45:46","slug":"slow-down-and-focus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/slow-down-and-focus\/","title":{"rendered":"Slow Down and Focus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<p>by Zeke Flores<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/paul-skorupskas-7KLa-xLbSXA-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/>We live in a world where short attention spans are the order of the day. Information, circumstances, and opportunities come at us rapidly from every direction that if our heads could swivel completely around, they&#8217;d look like a spinning top. We&#8217;re like the dog who runs after every squirrel he sees, regardless of how many there are or what direction they go.<\/p>\n<p>So, how do we slow down and focus? By remembering that life in Christ has purpose. Christians shouldn&#8217;t be all over the map; we should be the most focused, purpose-driven people on earth. We have a sure destination and the right way to get there.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, we&#8217;ve all got responsibilities and priorities in life, but don&#8217;t forget to keep the main thing, the main thing.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;<em>This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord<\/em>&#8221; (I Corinthians 7:35).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Zeke Flores We live in a world where short attention spans are the order of the day. Information, circumstances, and opportunities come at us rapidly from every direction that if our heads could swivel completely around, they&#8217;d look like a spinning top. We&#8217;re like the dog who runs after every squirrel he sees, regardless&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1375,581],"class_list":["post-88400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-focus","tag-patience"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28964,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-meaning-of-life-where-are-you-going\/","url_meta":{"origin":88400,"position":0},"title":"The Meaning of Life: Where Are You Going?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Having a goal in mind gives direction to the choices that you must make. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The meaning of life is more than what you are doing with your life right now. It is also where you are letting life take you. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0One thing is certain, you are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Audio&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56083,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/focus-on-your-goal\/","url_meta":{"origin":88400,"position":1},"title":"Focus on Your Goal","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Colossians 3:1-4 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the fantasy, Alice in Wonderland, Alice came to a junction that led in different directions. The Cheshire Cat was nearby, so Alice asked for advice. \u201cWould you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?\u201d The cat said, \u201cThat depends a good\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Audio&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3713,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-being-too-controlling\/","url_meta":{"origin":88400,"position":2},"title":"Am I being too controlling?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 16, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My being too controlling on the kids is generally directed towards my eldest. He is a great child:\u00a0very respectful, wins awards for citizenship, and all the teachers adore him and praise him. My problem is I snap at him for anything. Instead of being able to let it roll\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Answer&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63373,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/resolved\/","url_meta":{"origin":88400,"position":3},"title":"Resolved!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 14, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:7-14 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The old year is behind us and a whole new year lies before us \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What does this year hold for you? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What would you like to do? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What will you actually do? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each day is unique \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cToday is the first day of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sermon&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32834,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-only-christians-be-blessed\/","url_meta":{"origin":88400,"position":4},"title":"Should only Christians be blessed?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: When you ask God to bless someone, do they have to be a Christian? I doubt it, but I still want to ask. When someone says may God bless you, does He actually do it? Also, what do you think of Mother Teresa since she was a Catholic? Do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Answer&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14084,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-think-im-being-too-controlling\/","url_meta":{"origin":88400,"position":5},"title":"I think I&#8217;m being too controlling","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 25, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My being too controlling on the kids is generally directed toward my eldest. He is a great child: very respectful, wins awards for citizenship, and all the teachers adore him and praise him. My problem is I snap at him for anything. Instead of being able to let it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Parenting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Parenting","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/parenting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88400\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}