Weekly Devotionals – 7 November 2022

Focus is the energy to productivity and it sets you free to stay on task. Focus facilitates God’s will, and it has the ability to bring intensity to overcome the inertia to a situation, problem, or opportunity. There is a sense of urgency that pushes out distraction and brings clarity back to the matter at hand. Focused individuals understands that some things naturally drift out of focus, so they intentionally refocus. When a leader becomes distracted and unfocused as well-meaning activities can distract the team or the individual from the original purpose, “Mission drift” ensues.

The opposite of focusing on a task is to ignore or disregard it. We lose focus when we lose interest or ascribe a lower value to a person or opportunity. We lose focus when something else more attractive draws us away. Like a moth being drawn toward a candle, we can get burned if we are not careful. We have to be constantly fighting to stay focused because of all kinds of distractions, bad and good. The good news is we don’t have to remain unfocused or focus on the wrong things. When we set our eyes on the Lord like a laser beam, important things become priority and our minds become centered on Christ.

The truth of the matter is that we do focus all the time but the real issue is we may not focus on our most important options. We focus on sports and travel. We focus on pleasures and entertainment. We focus on finances and fitness. We focus or frustrations and fears. We tend to focus on things on earth that are fleeting, things that are here today but gone tomorrow.

Indeed, your mind and your heart tend to follow your focus. Your entire life aligns around where you focus. Thus, by God’s grace, stay focused on Him and His will for your life. Focused faith goes a long way toward experiencing God’s very best. Focused intensity on God’s agenda leverages His blue print for your life. Focus introduces freedom to do His will without reservations. so stay focused on the one thing He has called you to do, and you will be amazed at the results. You can literally become an expert in your field.

And above all else, become an intensely focused person of faith and character. Your character determines your credibility with people. Your influence grows as your character grows; so, stay focused on becoming more like Jesus. Laugh more and complain less. Relax more and worry less. Pray more and talk Jess. Give more and control less.

One important aspect of life to focus on is your family. Focus more intently on your family than you do your work or your hobbies. Put a puzzle together, take scuba diving lessons, plan a family reunion, organise a trip, or visit that family member who has dementia. Intentionally focus on your family now, while you have the opportunity and while they are interested. Your children or your aging parents deserve your intense focus. They grow up or they may grow old too soon, so zero in on them. Finally, focus on God in prayer. Prayer brings into focus what matters most.

Prayer dismisses distractions and invites priorities. Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

Monday: Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
 
Tuesday: Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
 
Wednesday: 2 Timothy: 2-15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
 
Thursday: 1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
 
Friday: 1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
 
Saturday: Philippians 3:13-14
13 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, 
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
 
Sunday: Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


All scriptures are quoted from the New International Version (NIV).
By Pastor Samuel Sam