POSITIONED TO SOAR I: Focusing Your Attention

POSITIONED TO SOAR I: Focusing Your Attention  

Luke 10:38-42

1 Sam 2, 3

You will only be able to achieve growth in spiritual and other areas of life by learning the power of looking unto Jesus in a focused way (Hebrews 12:1-2). Focusing on what is important and eternal results in growth in what is important. Your number one challenge is to focus on keeping the main thing the main thing.

The power of focus

The ability to choose is the most powerful asset you control especially the ability to focus.  Focus is what you give first place (precedence and importance) and let everything else follow or align. It directs the application of resources such as time, mind, talents, abilities, emotions, and faith. Focus instills discipline or the ability to see your goals, and plans through. Without focus, you cannot find the discipline to achieve your goals. Focus means that your life is defined, directed, and disciplined. Discipline is applying yourself fully to something right whether you feel like it or not until you get results.

To understand the power of focus think of the significant way pressure increases when a force is concentrated on a small surface. Think also, of how the intensity of heat from the sun grows when a lens concentrates it onto a piece of paper. Even a small-sized lens can focus the sun's heat falling on it such that the paper produces smoke and light up into flames. That is what focus can do. It combines strengths and resources in an intensified manner to produce results that would be impossible with resources dissipated.  Focusing is the key to maximizing potential and realizing exceptional goals.  Focus is the secret to fulfilling God-given tasks/purposes. In sports, keeping your eyes on the ball is vital to victory.  In every big achievement, somebody saw it and focused resources on it until it existed.

•           Lack of focus or wrong/misplaced focus results in losses. E.g. Loss of focus while driving a car or carrying out flying maneuvers on a plane.

•           What you focus on today you give permission to exist tomorrow. Intentionally or unintentionally, what you focus on you are working towards and will get.   That is why you should avoid focusing on what you dislike, e.g., your enemy and past failures. Decide to focus your mind and heart on what you want to see happen and what you want your life to look like. Focus on what is important or best.

•           What you focus on, dominates your thinking, your awareness, your speech, your prayer, your choices, and your life.  It exerts great power over your life and is what you are becoming. It pulls you to itself. It elevates you to its level or brings you down to its level.  It ties you to itself in a way that locks you in doom or releases you to your potential. If you focus on it, you live with it.

•           What you focus on becomes bigger in your sight and processing of things in your life.  It blurs/dims/blocks all else around you including opportunities and other possibility thoughts.

•           What you focus on you glorify. You make it look big and important by giving it much attention and priority.

•           What you focus on determines your perspective/view/attitude. For example, when you dislike someone often, it is because of what you are focusing on. If you do not like someone, you will focus on their negative aspects and will find evidence to build your case.  You will see all the negatives including non-existent ones to support your dislike. On the other hand, if you like someone you choose to focus on the positives, you will find the evidence. The perspective flows from where you place your focus. No wonder some or someone says you are the most beautiful yet many others find fault.   Beauty is a matter of focus.

•           What you focus on determines your response to issues. For example, you may not control what people say about you or the trouble that comes. You however are always able to control how you respond. You can decide to focus on the solution instead of the problem. Or on the benefit instead of the suffering.  If you can focus on something encouraging nothing can discourage you. Paul's focus on God shook both the jail and the jailer (Acts 16:25, 26).

•           What you focus on is a weapon of warfare that gives you the power of the subject of your focus and generates moral strength.

•           What you focus on captures your heart with fear, hope, and passion. Passion is inflamed when your focus and your purpose match.

•           What you focus on is what is getting your attention. What is taking most of your time and energy? What preoccupies your mind most? What is consuming most of your energy? What do you pay attention to most?

What you Focus on points to what you are listening to. We all can think of incidences where we ran into trouble for not paying attention. A look at two bible examples will give lessons about the importance of focusing attention on God.

Example of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-10:42)

The passage tells about a visit by Jesus to the house of Martha and her sister Mary. Both women were strong supporters of Jesus’ ministry. During the visit, Mary sat with Jesus to learn and to hear his word. Meanwhile, instead of LISTENING to his agenda, Martha was busy WORKING out an agenda she created for him. Martha complained to Christ that she was doing the household responsibilities by herself. She, like in our often instructional prayers, even instructed Jesus to tell Mary to help her in the work. Martha commanded Jesus but Jesus commended Mary for choosing to listen. Mary focused her attention on Jesus. Listening was the most important thing needed (Luke 10:42). The decision to focus attention on Jesus brought security and no one can take it away. Jesus referred to Martha's priorities, important as they were, as a distraction from what was best (Luke 10:40). In Isaiah 45:11 Jesus said 'Command ye me' only after you have 'asked me' to know my will. Distraction results in anxiety and a troubled heart (Luke 10:41, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6, 7). Jesus is looking for people with a willingness to hear. If you do not hear his voice,  other voices confuse and trouble you. Voices that also make your life communicate a meaningless message. Attention levels are highest when pilots learn to use their parachutes because the lessons are life and death. Such is paying attention to what Jesus says in each situation. Do not get distracted by anything - your job, your troubles, your goals, your agendas, and even your family. 

Example of Eli and Samuel (1 Samuel 2:11-3:18)

Eli fell out of favor with God for not listening to God and doing his will. He would not even censure his sons when they were abusing their priestly privileges and slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He was distracted from God by his relationship to his sons (Mathew 10:37).  AS a result, he lost everything he held dear. He lost both his sons, he lost his life, and his family lost their place in the priesthood.  God raised Samuel to a priest who LISTENED to God (1 Samuel 2:35). And that was lesson number one in his call by God.  ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening" - I Samuel 3:9. God is looking for people who want to hear what He has to say.  God does wonderful things in and for his people by speaking. Jesus declared, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” - (John 10:10; Mathew 11:15; 13:9; 13:43)

Repeatedly throughout the Bible God says, “Listen to me”

• Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments that I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and keep, and do them

• Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

• Hear, O Israel the word which the LORD speaks unto you

• Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth

• "Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you." Deut 6:3

• "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isaiah 55:3

Let us learn three things from Samuel that confirm you are listening and hearing God.

>> Be near to God. Samuel lived close to God all the time. You cannot listen when you are far away. Get near to be able to hear.  To hear you have to be near. God often speaks in a still small voice. Elijah. The master formula for hearing from God is to build your relationship with him. You always discover things you do not know.  Samuel was at the Tabernacle every time the place was open. Be immersed in church life and ministry. Grow and help others grow in their closeness to God.  Start your day and projects right. Instead of starting by turning your computer on and checking email, begin with time to pray and let God refresh what your life is about (Psalm 16:11). Begin each day in the word of God so that you catch the big picture for the day. If you begin each day with prayer and meditation on God's word, you can focus on what is important.

>> Show growth. Samuel was growing. 1 Samuel 2:2 tells us “… the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD”. Listening results in growth. 1 Samuel 2:26 tells us Samuel grew “… in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.” You cannot listen and fail to grow. When you stop listening, you begin to die. Growing is changing for the better. Be a learner. Learning is a listener to know what to do to be better.

>> Serve in the house of God. Again and repeatedly, we are told, “Samuel was ministering before the LORD” (2:11, 18 and 3:1). You cannot be listening and fail to participate in ministry.  If not moved to serve you are not listening. When you listen, you receive his agenda for ministry. 

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

 South Africa