In 2018, I pray for the ability for you to  F O C U S  well, and  F O C U S  right.

Two scriptures we’re going to take for this topic;

Psalm 121:2

Philippians 3:13-14

So let’s start with our King of Kings…

In 2018, I want US (because I’m part of you all too!) to walk with God closer than ever before.
Some of us, through the years or past few months, have been consistent on our journey with Him, and have taken our Christian walk with pride and purpose and have truly grown in Christ Jesus. Some of us… haven’t quite had the same story.
But this year, all of us must intensify our relationship with God.
Yes, even if it was good before, it can be better, so this is for you too!

Let us be intentional about our relationship with God. Let us actively make time for Him and the things concerning Him.
The bible teaches us to seek FIRST God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33) – therefore we must not alter that order for any one or any thing!
First means First, and therefore I want ‘A better relationship with God’ to be at the top of our goals list this year.
When our eyes are fixed on God, we can be assured that we are indeed Focusing Right – and the bible tells us in that same verse in Matthew, that everything else, will be added onto us accordingly. (Yeah, you can smile about that promise, I did too).

With our eyes fixed on Christ as advised by the word of God in Colossians 3, we will find that we will become more in tune with the things of the kingdom, and therefore the things of God. Even our goals and dreams and aspirations will point towards edifying the name of God, and with that manifesting, we will find ourselves truly becoming who God has called us to be!
Quickly, before we leave this section, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered if you’re feeling like you have absolutely no clue where, and how to start with this whole drawing nearer to God business. Just head over to a previous post called ‘Schedule Him In’ for some practical tips on actively giving more time to God.

So now we’re Focusing right, let’s talk about Focusing well, and let’s hone in on all those other goals and resolutions on your sheet of paper…

Scripture 1 says;

“My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.”
[Psalm 121:2]

There’s a reason this verse is written as it is.
When you say this verse with your own mouth, not only are you declaring the source of your help, but you’re also reminding yourself of the magnitude of the Power, Ability and Strength of that source – The Maker of Heaven and Earth…
This tells us God is Limitless, All-Powerful, Always Able, Ever-Present, Got connections galore, Never runs dry – it basically tells us He has Absolutely Everything you and I need.
So why are we looking elsewhere?

In 2018, whatever that material or earthly goal is, please be reminded at all times to go to God first.
Be it your career goal, education goal, family goal – when you’re seeking help, direction, resources of any kind, go to Him first!
And yes, even though He may send the response through a human like yourself, you can have perfect peace knowing that it’s the right thing and the right package.

Remember in the previous post I spoke about distractions?
We will meet people this year that will be no good for where God is taking us. We will come across ‘opportunities’ this year that will be wrapped in shiny paper looking like it’s all part of God’s plan, but we must keep in mind what we have set out to do, and consult God before even considering taking any detours.
Distractions can also appear in the form of failures – you didn’t quite get the result you were looking for in that section, so you think it means you should abort the journey towards that goal – Wrong!
See, I’d be lying to us if I said we were all going to have a rosy year, with no bumps, pauses, or hurdles. The truth, rather, is that some things will come in our way this year that will not be according to our plan, nor will they be convenient for the aim we are striving towards.
But hey, let us FOCUS on what is ahead of us.
I pray for strength in our minds to constantly keep a clear sight of the glory that is to come, and in doing so, we will not be held back or thrown off track by the obstacles we encounter. Rather we will be empowered by a God who cares about us, and pays close attention to us – an Ever-Present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1), a God who does not slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:3-4).

So now our Focus is strong, right? It’s pretty firm I’m sure, but before we go, we’ve got to do a final check to ensure it’s actually facing the Correct Direction…

Our second scripture says;

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.“
[Philippians 3:13-14]

Now this passage is very relevant and applicable to our Focus on Christ, however I actually want us to use its concept to understand the fact that we must Focus in the right direction!
What good is it to us if the prize is in front of us, and we’re so fixed on what’s behind? Yeah, NO Good at all!
Therefore friends, I want us to promise each other that we will allow the past to be past, and just as this scripture says, we will press on, in 2018, toward the new thing that lies ahead.

You see, the reason why many of us have struggled to achieve certain goals in previous years is not because we weren’t physically capable of doing it, but it was simply because we were mentally lagging behind. We remained so stuck on the what ifs, could haves, should haves and mistakes of the past. We wasted valuable energy on a detrimental type of recollection of our decisions/actions, rather than channelling those thoughts into a constructive reflection that would have propelled us forward.
This year, if we’re going to look back at all, I want us to only do it in the form of the latter! And don’t spend too much time there, because there is so much more waiting for us ahead.

This scripture says ‘forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead’.
Another translation says, ‘I forget everything that is behind me and look forward to that which is ahead of me’. A third says, ‘one thing I do, is forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead’.

You can probably tell that I struggled to decide which translation to quote in the full reference above, as they all read so nicely.
But what we see in all of them is an explicit delivery of the message: NO LOOKING BACK.
Whilst the beginning of verse 13 serves as an accurate acknowledgement of our current status and present standing of ‘I’m Getting There’ – it goes on to tell us the importance of this one thing to do – which is to look toward where we are going, rather than where we have come from.
It tells us to leave behind that which is now meant for ‘behind’, and work at all costs to ensure the great attainment of what we ought to grab which lies IN FRONT of us!

2018 – First step  F O C U S…

We must keep our eyes, minds and hearts firmly on the goals that we have set for ourselves – and have a positive mindset accompanying every thought of those goals.
We aren’t looking at our past failures, we aren’t looking at what our neighbour is doing, and we aren’t looking at short-cuts or ways to get there sooner (because endurance of the full journey just as God has ordained it, is what we should long for).

Friends, let’s agree that you and I are Focusing firmly, correctly, and in the right direction, in order for us to the see the fruitfulness of our goals in this year – No delays, No compromising.

 

Head back here in a few days for a word on  L E A D.

 

Keep the Faith, Don’t Stop Believing
God Bless you

 

#FOCUS
#NewYear
#2018
#FocusLeadAchieve!