Stay Focused 2

'DO NOT SWERVE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT.' PROVERBS 4:27 NIV

Focus does three things for you:
1) It keeps you on target.
We find ourselves pulled in a dozen different directions, spending much of our time and energy on things we don't really care about. Author Don Marquis put it this way: 'Ours is world where people don't know what they want, and are willing to go through hell to get it.' The Bible says: 'Let your eyes look straight ahead...Do not swerve to the right or the left' (Proverbs 4:25-27 NIV).

2) It increases your energy.
Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will suck the life out of you. Focus gives you energy. Admiral Richard Byrd, the Polar explorer, said, 'Few men coem anywhere near exhausting the resources dwelling within them. There are deep wells of strength that are never used.' One of the reasons those wells go untapped is lack of focus. The mind doesn't reach toward achievement until it has clear objectives.

3) It lifts you.
It's been said that 'the world stands aside to let anyone pass, who knows where he or she is going.' In a sea of mediocrity, just knowing what you want to do and making an effort to pursue it, distinguishes you from almost everybody else. Henry David Thoreau asked, 'Do you ever hear of a man who had striven all his life faithfully and singly toward an object, and in no measure obtain it? If a man constantly aspires, is he not elevated?' Just by striving to become better than you are, you become elevated even if you don't accomplish what you desire, and even if others don't step aside for you.
By trusting God and aiming higher, you move to a higher level.

adapted from The Word For Today.

Look Up

"Consider (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." -Hebrews 12:3

LOOK UP... because in times like these, your very life may depend on it.
Some time ago, the Lord showed me that a spirit of weariness is trying to work its way into our lives these days through all the pressure and bad news that surrounds us.
It's working to get our eyes off the Word of God by bombarding us with negative forces. It's trying to get us to look down at defeat instead of up at Jesus.

If let that happen, your spirit man will begin to lose his dominion.
And the Word tells us what the results of that is.
It says you will "be wearied and faint in your minds."

Jesus put it this way in Mark 4. He said that when the cares of this world enter into your heart and mind, they'll choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful.
And since your faith is the product of the Word, that means your faith will wither.
Once that happens, you're headed for disaster.

What can you do to stop this chain reaction of weariness?

Look up! Get your eyes back on Jesus.
I remember on the the field of athletic competition that when an opponent allowed himself to drop his head, he was no longer dangerous.
He could be very easily defeated. So keep your head up. Keep considering Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Consider Him instead of the cares of this world. Consider what God says in His Word.
Be moved by the thoughts of God. Let His thoughts become your thoughts.

Look up! Get your eyes off the circumstances around you and onto your heavenly source.
Don't be afraid you're going to lose everything. God is your source, not the world.
He can take care of you regardless of what happens around you.

If you've gotten weary lately, begin to lift your eyes. Raise your head up instead of looking down.
God is up. Jesus is up.
The devil is down- under your feet. LOOK UP!

'Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, will walk and not become weary. -Isaiah 40:27-31nasb