Word 4U 2day/Stay focused

[ladylovesJesus]

Stay focused (1)

"Let's keep focused...those of us who want everything God has for us." PHILIPPIANS 3:15 (TM)

When you were younger did you ever sit with a magnifying glass trying to focus a beam of sunlight to try to set fire to some paper, a spider, or maybe even your brother or sister?! Its amazing what focused light can do. In fact, when light is focused as a laser beam, it can cut through steel. In the same way, nothing is as potent as a focused life.

The men and women who make the greatest difference in life are often the most focused. The Apostle Paul said, 'I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing' (Philippians 3:13 TLB). Paul's obsession was to make Christ known. God will have a focus for your life too. If you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Be willing to turn away from good activity to do only that which matters most. Doing lots of stuff doesn't mean you're doing the right stuff.

Poet William Matthews wrote, 'One well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged, is worth a hundred shallow faculties [abilities]'. The first law of success in this day, when so many things are clamouring for attention, is concentration.' In other words , figure out what God wants you to do and focus. Does focus come easily or naturally? No, it's a discipline that must be practiced every day.


Stay focused (2)

"Do not swerve to the right or the left." PROVERBS 4:27 (NIV)

Focus does three things for you:

1) Focus keeps you on target. Ever found yourself pulled in a dozen different directions, spending loads of our time and energy on things you don't really care about (not including the washing up)? One author put it like this: 'Ours is a world where people don't know what they want, and are willing to go through hell to get it.' The Bible says: 'Let your eyes look straight ahead...Do not swerve to the right or the left' (Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV).

2) Focus increases your energy. Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will **** the life out of you. Focus gives you energy. Admiral Richard Byrd, the Polar explorer, said, 'Few men come anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.' You have what it takes to go much further and faster but that won't happen without focus. Focus helps you dig deep.

3) Focus lifts you. Just knowing what you want to do and making an effort to chase it down, sets you apart from almost everybody else. Just by striving to become better than you are, you become elevated even if you don't accomplish what you desire, and even if others don't step aside for you. By trusting God and aiming higher, you move to a higher level.


Stay focused (3)

"Acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." PROVERBS 3:6 (NIV)

When it comes to staying focused, keep in mind:

1) focused people always look for a better way. Don't just settle for what you already know. An American family who moved into a new neighbourhood had a late start one morning. As a result their six year old missed her school bus. Though it would make him late for work her dad agreed to take her to school if she gave him directions. After 20 minutes of going in circles they finally arrived at the school, which turned out to be only a few blocks away from where they lived. Steaming, her dad asked why she drove him all over the place when the school was so close to home. 'We went the way the school bus does,' she said, 'that's the only way I know.' God wants us to learn new things

2) focused people concentrate a little harder and a little longer. A famous baseball player said, 'What separates a superstar from the average ballplayer is that he concentrates just a little bit longer.' Focused thinking is the ability to remove distractions and mental clutter so that you can concentrate with clarity

3) focused people make commitments, not excuses. That's why praying and getting direction from God is so important. When you know it's from God you can commit.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight"


Stay focused (4)

"Forgetting the past." PHILIPPIANS 3:13 (NLT)

1) Focused people don't live in the past.

Sometimes we can focus on the wrong thing: the hairs growing out of your dad's nose, the legs of that boy or girl you fancy and what has happened in our past.

We all have mess in our past; some of it we caused with bad decisions and actions, some of it is the hurt that others cause us. Although we need to learn from the past we mustn't let it hold us back. Earlier in the month we talked about how runners 'fix their eyes on the finishing line'. They can't afford to look behind; many races have been lost that way! Don't focus on the past, focus on the new start and future that God gives you each day.

2) Focused people don't think about the difficulties, but the rewards. If you dwell on the difficulties too long you'll start to develop self-pity instead of self-discipline. By focusing on results you'll stay encouraged. Make Christ your example. 'He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards' (Hebrews 12:2 TLB).

3) Focused people choose their friends carefully. Some people know the person you are focused on becoming and they help you, encourage you, even tell you when you get off track. It's simple: hang out with these guys!

Written by Bob Gass