Ecclesiastics 6v9: Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Welcome back to our discussion on the subject of changing your focus. Our focus has a lot of power and possibilities, but we just need to know how to maximize this potential. Your focus is supposed to work for you and not work against you, but the sad reality for many believers is that they don’t know how to get the best out of their focus! This is why this series of messages is coming your way today; you need to realize that God’s will and plan for you is to maximize the power of your focus fully; that is why you need to change your focus. In other words, you need to use your focus wisely and rightly if your focus is going to work for you. So what are the areas that you need to make adjustments regarding how you use your focus? The moment you are able to make adjustments in these areas, you will be able to see great changes in your life!
AREAS TO CHANGE YOUR FOCUS:
3. Stop focusing on your pains; instead, start focusing on the positives. You need to realize that if you are going to be truly joyful, you need to ensure that you choose your focus wisely. As long as you dwell on your pains or disappointments, happiness will elude you. So instead of focusing on your pains or disappointment, start focusing on your success. Start focusing on the good things that are taking place in your life now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there will not be pains or disappointments in life, but you need to know how to cast your pains or disappointments into the hands of the master. This is why it’s important to cast your burdens, your pains, or disappointments upon him. He can turn your pains into power and your disappointments into appointments. Do not spend your time and energy focusing on your pains because the more you do so, the deeper and the sadder you will be. If care is not taken, it brings you down into a state of depression. So make up your mind today that your focus will be on the positives and not on the negatives. Let your focus be on his power, promises, and purpose from today. This will bring about a remarkable change in your life (Philip.4v8).
4. Stop focusing on what you can’t control; instead, start focusing on the things you can control. This is one of the most important areas you need to make changes in your focus. There are many things outside your control that you should not even bother yourself about; the funniest thing is that those are the things we concern ourselves about a lot. For instance, the issue of whether someone accepts you or not, likes you or not, believes in you or not or even respects you or not and so on are some of the things that bother a lot of people, this is why they are not truly happy and satisfied in life. If you really want to be happy and fulfilled, you need to stop bothering yourself about what you cannot control; instead, focus your time and energy on the things you can easily control. Some of the things that you can easily control are your attitude, network, gratitude, physique, habits, beliefs, what you do with your time, who you choose to spend your time with, etc. These are some of the things that you can channel your energies to. Make sure you are not dissipating your energies unnecessarily by focusing on the things that will not add value to your life or contribute meaningfully to your destiny. So it is time for you to make the change today. It is time for you to contribute towards your own happiness. I want you to know that you only have one life to live and the earlier you take charge of the things that you can control, the better for you. May today mark the beginning of such changes for you in the name of Jesus (1Sam.10v26-27).
5. Stop focusing on where you are; instead, start focusing on where you are going. Often, we allow what we are passing through to affect where we are going. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that someone can’t be weighed down by where they are, but God has given you the power to take charge of your life in this area. This is why you should not allow what you are going through to affect you negatively. You need to choose a better response to whatever is taking place in your life right now. Don’t allow what people have done to you to color your life negatively. I want you to know that there will be ups and downs in life, but how you choose to respond to these events will determine your joy and whether you will arrive at your destination. Where are you right now may not be in the best of places or moments. Still, one thing is sure, with a good attitude, you will be able to go through that season and ultimately arrive at your expected destination. You may be like Joseph, who, whether he was in prison or Potiphar’s house, did not allow where he was to affect where he was going because his focus was on his destination and future. I want you to also realize that your focus should be on your destiny and your future; whatever you are going through right now is just for a while, and it will soon pass away. You will arrive at your destination. So choose wisely how you will spend your time and energy and let the greater part of your time focus on your tomorrow or the place of your destiny. This is how you will arrive ultimately at your destination, so do not allow the enemy to tie you down. Always keep your eyes on where you are going, not on the detours or potholes! Don’t fall for the distraction of the enemy! As you keep your eyes on your destination, you give yourself a greater chance of arriving there! So make this your motto and determination! I see you getting there! (2Cor.4v17-18).
Other Scriptural References: (Rom.8v18, 28; Gal.1v10; Pro.16v7; Eph.6v6: 4v23; Phile.1v6).
Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, I receive your courage and wisdom to choose my Focus rightly. Thank you for coming to my aid and rescue in this area of my life in Jesus’ name.
CONFESSION: Thank you, Father, for opening my eyes to understanding to the tremendous power that my Focus possesses. Therefore, I choose to use my Focus wisely and rightly. I will focus on the things that will be beneficial, fruitful, and productive to my life and destiny. I refuse to use my Focus in the wrong manner. I will not spend my time and energy on the things that will not contribute meaningfully to my life through the power of my Focus. Thus, I accomplish my colorful destiny and I glorify God. I’m a blessing to my generation and my world in the name of Jesus.
Yemi Adeoti is a pastor, teacher, life coach and mentor & also a prolific writer.
Amen