Samuel Robinson // PCSU // Focused
So hello, I'd just like to start with a shout out to Ryan Davison, before I forget, still kinda feel guilty about that... Sorry man...
Anyhow, let's get focused.
Going into my second SU weekend I didn't really know how to feel; I had no idea what to expect from "Focus", what if the speaker was boring and what if small group sucked? To be honest, though I was excited, I never thought it would surpass last year...
Boy did God prove me wrong!
In a small group of 7 people named "Small Group 7" I was really encouraged and strengthened in my faith! God provided the perfect people I needed to help me refocus on Him and then challenge me to take a risk for Him!
After each session going and talking to a bunch of strangers I now call friends about focusing on God really tested my thinking. I've learned that if we are focused on God, it's okay to take risks for him and to fail trying (something that Mark Hand expertly explained to us in Session 3).
The risk that I need to take in my life is finding an opportunity to talk to my dad about my faith and about God. My dad isn't a Christian and has had a tough go at life. He's made mistakes and sinned, we all have, but has never found his focus on God to be forgiven...
Mark taught that we should ask for God to break our hearts for something. I have never once tried to reach my dad, not once have I talked to him about God, not once tried to show him my faith... And the dad that I love never witnessing God’s grace broke my heart... And I'd never been focused enough to bother helping him find it.
Before I'd always been too uncaring, too distracted to try. I'm scared for rejection, scared of feeling embarrassed in front of my dad and just failing to impact him at all. But I now realise that if I don't try, who else will? When I do get a chance to explain a part of what I believe, even if it does seem to outwardly fail, I now realise that perhaps seeds were planted and what looked to have failed wasn't too bad after all.
Within Small Group 7 God placed the right people in order to really encourage and challenge me to really find an opportunity! You all know who you are and I can't thank you enough. Though it may feel like a risk, if I keep focused on God, then what is there that can go wrong? It really is okay to try for God and potentially fail, just keep your focus on him!
Thanks for reading!
"Throughout thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience" - 1 Peter 3.15