“I am focusing all my energies on this one thing.” Philippians 3:13 NLT
“Focus is the opposite of distraction, and a focused life is the better option to a distracted life.”
My thoughts today are about “the power of focus.”
The distractions of noisy lives and the pace of busy lives with their demanding necessities and hectic schedules that result, make everyday lives challenging at best. All of us are likely to be busier than we probably need to be, which leaves us hurrying from one thing to another, our attention barely focused before being drawn away by pressing diversions. No wonder people are mentally tired and emotionally weary. Do you settle for doing a lot of things halfway, rather than doing much of anything well?
Focus is the opposite of distraction, and a focused life is the better option to a distracted life. It is pretty obvious which of those would be to your advantage. Consider the example of the power of focus as applied in laser technology – useful in science, medicine, manufacturing, entertainment, and common aspects of everyday life such as DVDs and Bar Codes. The Tower of Babel is also an interesting example of the power of focus, even when misdirected and wrongly applied. God said, “Indeed the people are one and have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” Read Genesis 11:1-9 NKJV. Jesus gave the opposite application of such focused power of agreement, “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in Heaven.” See Matthew 18:18-20 NIV. Unrealized possibilities await a focused life.
Focus keeps you on track and on task. The Bible says of Paul, “I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing. Forgetting the past, and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to Heaven.” Philippians 3:13-14 NLT. What one thing was Paul’s focus? Paul guarded against the distraction of anything of his past (Vs 4-9), or anything second best to his primary goal – to be, in Christ, what he had not yet become and receive from Christ the eternal prize promised. (Vs 8-12).
Focus clarifies what needs to be your priority and what is not. You can’t say yes to every invitation or prospect that comes along without sacrificing some more primary responsibility and/or more profitable opportunity. “They made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard have I not kept.” Song of Solomon 1:6 NKJV. Sadly, that may describe a lot more of us than we would wish. Priorities are not always easy to keep in order.
Focus provides the best stewardship of what you have been given. Apply yourself purposefully where you are most productive and fulfilled. Abilities, capacity, and concentration are no more limitless than are the realistic limitations of time and talents; use all you have for the blessing and benefit of others, and to the profit of your eternal soul.
Nehemiah led a group of Israel back to Jerusalem, generations after the city had been left in ruins by its enemies; they found the desolation of its gates destroyed and walls in rubble. He masterfully administered a daunting task in the briefest of time, by focusing groups of people on a section of the wall for which they were responsible. Read Nehemiah 3. “So we rebuilt the wall . . for the people worked with all their heart.” Nehemiah 4:6 NIV. By the concentrated attention of an individual or the coordinated efforts of a group with one heart, amazing things are accomplished.
My prayer for you today is that you have a single-minded devotion to do God’s will fully.