Tag: focus

Fixed on Jesus

Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.”

There is no healthy way to sustain ourselves except we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. The world is getting worse.

Since we are foreigners in this world anyway, we need to keep our thoughts on the things above, be heavenly minded. So that we don’t get caught up in the things of the world, it is a necessary requirement. We are looking towards eternity. As eternal beings, we have to understand that the temporary things are just that, temporary. Not saying our vocations aren’t important, they are, as well as other things such as relationships, jobs, bills, etc. However, they are all temporary.

Eternity needs to be our prioritized focus. As we walk with Jesus day by day, He leads us by His Holy Spirit on what to prioritize. Jesus is first and then all else. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33.

We have to hold on to what’s important as the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. As with the sower of seed, taking your eyes off the prize gives the enemy opportunity to do just that.

I just encourage you today to keep your eyes and mind on Jesus no matter what else is going on.

Faithfulness

Nature's Beauty
The Faithfulness of God in Nature’s Beauty

My comfort today in the Lord is so much stronger. It has been an interesting January. The commitment to writing has been mentioned. A narrower focus, concentrating on my gift and being consistent or faithful has kept me appreciating all that He does for me. Faithfulness is an interesting word because it automatically lends itself to the subject of faith. However, it is not just about faith in God but also about faith in the things you do.

 

Faithfulness is defined by such terms as

  • strict or thorough in the performance of duty; true to one’s word, promises, vows, etc; steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant
  • reliable, trusted, or believed
  • adhering or true to fact, a standard
  • full of faith; believing (By the way this is listed as an obsolete definition. I tend to believe there is nothing obsolete about faithfulness.)

In looking at the above definition, it is definitely necessary to build this character trait. In noticing the difference and changes in myself after committing to a particular thing, I can look back and see that when I was all over the place, I was in a chaotic place. There is definitely something to be said for faithfulness. Keep reading on God’s faithfulness…!

What’s Your Focus?

Focus. Today’s conversation is about focus. The definition is to concentrate, to focus one’s thoughts; to direct one’s attention or efforts. This is the word for me for 2016, focus. My attention and efforts will be focused on writing. I encourage my readers to comment, give feedback and engage. I have always loved words, reading and writing them. Learning new ones has always been fun to me. Call me a nerd, I’m okay with that.

That said, have any of you decided what your focus will be for this new year? This year is about growth, change and reinforcing your core value system. With any focus, consider how it will influence all the areas of your life. I have expressed my faith and focus for me is also about making sure that my attention and efforts are also reinforcing and building my faith.

The Scripture I read this morning from my devotional talks about “being anxious for nothing.” The actual Scripture is Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…” Hold on, I will tie this altogether for you. There is a difference between excitement and anticipation compared to being anxious. I notice that as I get more focused, I am getting more excited and have energized expectations from this focus. I have to calm myself when I begin to feel anxious. This word’s definition includes uneasiness, fear and mental distress.

When focused on a specific thing or venture, it is necessary to put your best foot forward in preparation and effort. The bottom line is to leave the rest in God’s hands, trust Him. The encouragement today is to stay focused but be aware of feelings, situations or incidences where you begin to feel anxious. Stop and do a mental check. Take the steps necessary to kick out the negative and move forward with the positive.

Small or large, I believe everyone should have a focus. Make sure your focus doesn’t have you. Some people may not believe they even have a focus until they check behaviors and in what activities they engage. Let’s focus for 2016!