God, you are GOOD! Thank you, for once again showing me exactly
what you want from me. I kept praying
for my One Little Word (OLW) for 2013. Over and over again, "Focus" kept coming to mind. I would see it more than once
a day, but then again, I felt compelled to add new words daily too!
Sometimes all it takes is reading blog posted on Facebook to find just the confirmation you were looking for! :)
While selecting a word isn't difficult,
it isn't something I take lightly. Last
year, my OLW was “Love”. When I pick a word, the enemy tries to attack
it. IMMEDIATELY. It’s happened 2 out of 2 years! Satan doesn't want me to grow; he wants me to
stay complacent. He must think that starting
the year off in a battle will cause me to give in and give up. No! I
must fight! Last year, I had to ask God
immediately for help and He didn't not disappoint! I learned so much about how to love others,
how to love myself, and most importantly, how to love God.
Here are some of the areas I want to gain “Focus”:
Romans 8:5-8 (MSG) Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self, ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (MSG) Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
Ephesians 6:5-8 (NLT) Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
· 4) I also get distracted in conversations or while
praying. When someone else is talking, I find my mind wandering. Sometimes, I
think of a question I want to ask the person that is talking, but to avoid
forgetting my question, I stop listening to what they are actually saying.
Other times, I want to tell them something that is completely unrelated to what
they are saying. I still tune them out
so I don’t forget what I want to say. Either
way, I want to really hear what people are saying to me. I want to be in the moment. I want to learn to listen. This principle applies to my prayers and being
still long enough to hear God’s whisper.
James 1:19 (NLT) Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Kings 19:11-13 (NLT) “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
Ironically enough, the word “focus” isn't in
many Bible translations. The New
International Version (NIV) doesn't have the word at all! The New Living Translation (NLT) uses it 4
times. The Message uses it a whopping 28 times! The verses below might not say
the actual word “focus”, but it does describe the action quite
effectively.
For 2013, I already have many distractions
trying to steal my Focus. Here are my weapons
to fight the battle:
The definition of “focus” is…
1) To concentrate attention or effort, emphasis
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)And now,
dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and
pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and
worthy of praise.
2) A point at which rays (light, heat, or sound)
converge toward another point
Romans 8:5 (ESV)For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, set their minds
on things according to the Spirit.
3) Adjustment for distinct vision, a state or
condition permitting clear perception or understanding
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
4) A center of activity or attraction
Philippians 3:10-14 (NLT) I
want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the
dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way
or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean
to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached
perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus
first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not
achieved it, but I focus on this
one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I
press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which
God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
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Alternatively,
a lesson in losing “focus”:
Matthew 14:24-31 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for
a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three
o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When
the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear,
they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be
afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s
really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and
walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began
to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately
reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why
did you doubt me?”
_____________________________________________________________________
This is exactly why I want focus.
Stop worrying about my current circumstances, especially
when the wind and waves are fierce.
Don’t fret over what may come.
Forget about the past.
Learn to be present in His Presence.
Ephesians 1:17-19 (MSG) I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
