Sharpen your focus to fulfill God’s plan

Focus is a very important element that a person must possess in order to live a productive life.

To be focused means to be fixed or settled on one thing; concentrate, and to direct one’s thoughts or efforts. In other words, focused people are not scattered in their thinking. They have a vision for their lives. They are disciplined and have a well thought out game plan for their lives.

One of the reasons why people fail in life and do not accomplish their goals is because of broken focus.

Often, people just simply have too many things that they are trying to do at once instead of focusing on what is really important. Busyness is the enemy of productivity.

I am sure that you have heard that old saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” This refers to a person who is not focused with their gifts and talents and have spread themselves too thin. Successful people are focused in their endeavors. Rather than trying to be an expert at everything, focus on being an expert at a few things.

Several years ago in my ministry, I was extremely busy, but not effective. I had a lot of activity going on but very little results; I was under a lot of stress. During that season, I learned that effectiveness was more valuable than activity and the sharper your focus the sharper you are. As I began to refocus and adjust my priorities, I eliminated some stress.

There are ways to sharpen your focus. The first thing is to remove the clutter from your life. You need to remove things in your life that distract and rob your focus. This could be too much TV, too many commitments, subscriptions, etc.

The second way you can sharpen your focus is to use a to-do list. A to-do list is very important because it helps you prioritize your schedule and your projects. I have found this to be a great asset in my life.

Finally, in order to sharpen your focus, you will need to evaluate your relationships. The people in your inner circle will either help you or hinder you. Make a commitment to surround yourself with people who can help you fulfill God’s plan for your life.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Certainly, it is difficult to run in a race with a bunch of weights tied around your ankles. In order to run effectively you will need to remove the weights.

What are some things you can eliminate from your life? Remember, your ability to guard your focus will determine the outcome of your life.

These are some of the practical tips you can implement to prioritize your life. You will find yourself being more effective and with a clear direction. Through the power of focus, you will see the vision for your life begin to unfold.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Sharpen your focus to fulfill God’s plan."