This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. While I am saddened by some of what I have heard lately from people I respect, people who name the name of Jesus, people who claim to live by the Word of God, I choose to remain focused. Let’s pray for those (Christians and non-Christians alike), who have allowed hatred and fear to grip their hearts, and who are adding fuel to the fire of division. Let’s pray for peace. Let’s pray for reconciliation. Let’s pray to the God of justice and recompense. And let’s remain focused on doing whatever the Lord leads us to DO in this season.
No matter what happens around the world as a result of terrorism, or right here in the United States as a result of racial or political turmoil, as believers we can focus on the following:
- God is still God!
- Jesus is still Lord!
- We are stilled called according to His purpose.
- We still have an assignment to complete before we die.
So don’t get distracted. Don’t allow yourself to get derailed from your destiny. Take control of your thought life and focus on your divine assignment. With that in mind, let’s go back to the passage we read yesterday. The Bible says:
“You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God made plans for you before the world began. You were born when you were born and where you were born, because of WHY you were born. God birthed you for such a time as this. This is your season. This is your time. You can’t afford to get distracted by things that will derail you from your destiny. Remain focused! God is counting on you!
2. A person who is able to take control of his/her thought life, to submit their soul to their spirit, and to channel their entire being into doing whatever they are led of the Holy Spirit to do, is a person who becomes a powerful tool in the hands of our Mighty God. Will you be this person today?
3. If you allow your mind to wander, your thoughts to run free, and your emotions to get incited by worldly agendas, you will live an uncontrolled, unfocused and unproductive life. This is a season for you to develop divine focus and to maintain it, no matter what you hear on the news.
4. Keep your mind on heaven.
a) The Bible teaches you to live for what is in heaven. It instructs you to think only about what is up there. This is not to create a person who is “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good”. No, on the contrary. This is to create a person who is heavenly minded, SO THEY CAN BE earthly good.
b) If your mind is not on heaven, if you are not hearing from heaven daily, if you are not setting your affection to the things of God and the Kingdom of God agenda, then you are not in position to extend Kingdom influence in this world.
c) If you are Born-Again you are going to from earth to heaven some day. For now, your assignment is to bring heaven to the earth.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I am dead in Christ. Jesus died my death. The life I now live is the life He died to give me. You made plans for me before the world began. I am determined to fulfill those plans. I will complete my divine assignment before I die. I will do so by being led of Your Spirit every day. I set my heart and mind to the things that are above and not beneath. I will go from earth to heaven someday. For now, I bring heaven to the earth daily. Your will shall be done, on earth as it is in heaven, through me, for Your glory! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
