Fixing your Focus
Phillippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
I have found that what I focus on determines my attitude and mindset. If I focus on the positive, I am usually positive. If I focus on the negative, my attitude can turn sour. When adjusting to cultural stress, changes in ministry, or life's difficulties I have to determine what I focus on. Focus is a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity.. Here are five places to fix your focus.
1. Focus on Jesus not yourself
Live the crucified life not the self life by putting Jesus on the throne of your heart. He is your savior and your Lord, the supreme authority over your life. Make him your first priority by spending extravagant time with him. Die to your wants, desires, and dreams and live for Him and Him alone.
2. Focus on what you have gained not on what you have lost.
We all make sacrifices in working overseas and you can make your sacrifice your focus or you can focus on all the blessings you have received. It is not about what you have to do, it all about what you get to do. Set your eyes on what lies before you not on what is behind you. Vision is always looks forward, don't spend the rest of your life looking in the review mirror.
3. Focus on what you can do not on what you can't.
There tends to be a lot of restrictions on what we can do where we live. There are laws working against us, shortages of resources, people, etc. We can focus on what we can't do and what we don't have or we can get up every morning and ask ourselves, what can I do today to glorify Jesus and expand his kingdom? The choice you make will determine your fruitfulness. There will always be obstacles and reasons you can't, the people who make a difference discover what they can do and then they do it.
4. Focus on your responsibilities not on perks, privileges, and titles.
Never begrudge another person's blessing. I have been given an assignment and that is to be what I focus on. I do not concern myself with what a colleague may or may not be doing. I am responsible for myself and I am to serve with the best of my abilities. Jesus is the master and we are His servants. Servants have no rights or privileges. Servants serve.
5. Focus on giving not on receiving.
Always give more than you receive. Never focus on what you can get, always focus on what you can give. Find a need and fill it. Don't be self centered but other people centered. Life shrinks when your eyes are on you and life expands when your eyes are on the world around you.
What are you focusing on today?
