FOCUSED

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God – Hebrews 12: 2

The Ordered Life is a FOCUSED Life. To be focused means: to be visionary, purposeful, targeted; to prioritize, concentrate, and consolidate. It is to strike your blows in one place until you accomplish your purpose. It is to be of one specific idea, steady aim, and single, concentrated purpose. Paul was fervently focused: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14). God is focused: He concentrated on specific assignments each day of creation. He then created human beings as pilgrims of purpose, not wandering nomads! Outside of focus, life is fragmented, scattered, overloaded, nomadic, and rootless.

Focus is vital to Life: Life doesn’t just happen. Life is not a rehearsal session. And life is about choices and responses. Successful people don’t drift to the top. They display focus and discipline under divine favour. Contemporary modernity however assaults focus: the modern world overwhelms us with ceaseless change and unending array of options. There are too many choices, too many people to relate to, too much to do, too much to see, too much to read, too much to catch up with, and too much to buy. We are bombarded with an infinite range of things we can do, things we would love to do, or things others tell us we should do. Feeling compelled to respond to every opportunity and need is a sure recipe for overload, confusion and burnout. Life’s pace is too hectic. Choice and change lead to a sense of fragmentation, saturation, overload and burnout, profound loss of unity and coherence in life. This condition saps spiritual vitality and tries to neutralize our faith.

Focus undergirds Faith. Faith fails when focus is lost. Peter’s momentary loss of focus almost ended in tragedy, but for Jesus’ rescuing hand (Mt.14:22-31). Having learnt the power of focus, Peter instructed the lame man by the Gate called beautiful: “Look at us” (Acts 3:4). This caught the man’s attention and sharpened his expectation for his miracle-healing (Acts 3:5-6). Focus ensures divine speed, impact, and maximized living. When you focus your attention, you create Strength and Momentum. Meditate on these instructions: “When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble…Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil” (Pro.4:12, 23-27).

Focus makes you a “Finder”! It takes concentration to make discoveries – to see what others merely observe. Focus makes you a “finisher”: Jesus finished the mission of redemption (Jh.19:30). Paul pressed with focus right up to the finishing line (Phil.3:12-21; 2Tim.4:2-8). A runner without focus is a ready-made failure. GOD, His Kingdom and Will, must be the primary Object of your focus: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt.6: 33). A life that is focused on God will automatically focus on Purpose, Vision, Calling, and Wisdom – the principal thing (Pro.4:7). Create time to pray, meditate, think, and plan. Focus on your strengths not your weaknesses. Focus on your ‘Boundary of Brilliance”. Focus on doing a few things extremely well. Be focused on what works, instead of complaining on what doesn’t work. Concentrate on what you do best! Learn to say NO to the good so that you can say YES to your best. Focus, that you may become a Positive Focus in your location and generation!