Stay focused

The two most important things needed to run and win any race in life are time and energy. And thankfully, God has given them to us by grace. We can’t afford to waste them. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down…And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Decide today to pay attention to what’s needful rather than things that add no value to you. Learn also to do away with the fear of rejection and focus on your goals and aspirations. Don’t try to please anyone by doing everything.

Ask yourself, “whose approval am I seeking, God’s or people’s?” Don't waste your time and energy trying to please others. Just stay focused. Do away with the fear of missing out on good opportunities. It’s not every opportunity that comes knocking is good and, hence, open and accept. Opportunity doesn’t equal obligation. There will always be more opportunities than there is time to pursue them. Learn to choose your opportunities prayerfully and wisely.

Jim Collins, author of the book, “Good to Great”, wrote that, “Most of us lead busy but undisciplined lives. We have ever expanding ‘to do’ lists, trying to build momentum by doing, doing, doing. But it rarely works. Those who built the good to great companies made as much use of ‘stop doing’ lists, as ‘to do’ lists. They displayed a remarkable discipline to unplug from all sorts of extraneous junk and channel their resources into only one or a few areas.” Start saying YES to your personal goals. Align your decisions towards achieving those goals. That way, you will have something worth focusing on instead of focusing on others and wasting your time on things that are needless.

PRAYER: “Oh Lord God, You are our only dwelling place forever. In You, I live and move and have my being. Open my eyes that I may behold Your presence always around me. Grant me the strength to remain focused on You in running the race marked out for me, that I may attain the prize of my calling, in Jesus name. Amen”

BIBLE READING: MARK 11:27-33, 2 COR 6, PSALMS 101, 1 SAMUEL 15-16