10 Questions to Ask concerning Your Heart’s Focus this Monday Morning

It’s Monday—and Mondays can sometimes be difficult for pastors (in fact, see these posts about Mondays). Sometimes, we get misfocused as we review the Sunday events. Maybe these questions will help you evaluate where your focus is today:

1. On the few negative remarks you heard yesterday, or on the positive remarks of others? Even the silence of the many can actually be an affirmation—so what do you most hear? 
2. On the weak spots of your preaching, or on the grace that allows you to preach at all? None of us preaches perfectly, but the wrong focus on our failures can be defeating. 
3. On the things that didn’t work well, or on all the things that ran smoothly? That is, is your proverbial glass half-empty or half-full? 
4. On the people who weren’t there, or on those who faithfully attended and served yesterday?Don’t overlook the many dedicated believers who are there Sunday after Sunday. 
5. On frustrations from yesterday, or on ways you can lead the church to improve? The best leaders don’t dwell on problematic areas; they instead work to address them. 
6. On the places it seems the devil’s winning in your church, or on the truth that God has already broken the back of the powers through the cross? If your focus is on the devil, you’re already giving him more attention than the Scriptures do. 
7. On the “good old days” prior to COVID, or on the future God has for your church? We’ve been through a lot in the past 15 months, but we can’t focus our attention there. God is still growing His church.
8. On the strain of preparing another sermon for next week, or on the joy of digging into the Word to proclaim it again? Either attitude will become apparent when you step into the pulpit, so I hope it’s the latter for you. 
9. On past-tense struggles, or on God’s renewed mercies this morning? The enemy would want to capture you in yesterday’s defeats so you miss God’s grace today. 
10. On the church where you’d rather be, or on the congregation God currently has you leading? It’s tough to lead a church well when you already have one foot in another place—even if that other place is only in your mind at this point. 

Where is your heart today?