7 principles to keep you focused on your future.

1.Focus requires a reference point.

I can’t think of a better story or illustration about the necessity of focus than that one found in Hebrews 12 of the Message Bible.

“We’d better get on with it. . .keep your eyes on Jesus. . .Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed.”

That is focus! You have to have a reference point.

2.Focus requires effort.

Focus requires a conscious mental decision to do whatever is necessary.

That means you may have a job description that only requires you to do a certain amount of effort. But when you see it is necessary to do more to make sure the outcome is successful and you do it, you put yourself on the next level for success.

While others may criticize, complain and seek to find and enlist fellow commiseraters. . .the one who will survive to success. . .the one who will overcome adversity. . .is the one who maintains their focus.

3.Focus should be taught and modeled early.

The scripture teaches that we should train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

What are we teaching our children to focus on? We are teachers either consciously or subconsciously.

Children will imitate their parents. If your daily focus is on any and everything that’s on television, then your children will duplicate your choices as their own.

If your words are focused on criticism of your church, your pastor or your spouse or others in authority, then your children will act and behave in the same manner. Studies have shown that male children generally treat their wives the way their fathers treated their mothers.

That lends credibility to the old saying that: more is caught than taught.

4.Focus must be filtered through priorities.

There will be moments in our lives, despite our most best efforts, that we tend to focus on the wrong things or perhaps things that aren’t a part of our vision or the goals that we’ve established for ourselves.

Our focus should be filtered through the achievement of our goals in the six major areas of our lives (spiritual, family, financial, physical, mental and social.)

5.Focus can be strengthened.

The best way to strengthen your focus is in the King James Version of verse Philippians 4:8 says, “. . .think on these things.”

What you focus on will expand in your life. As believers you are to protecting what you are reproducing in your imagination (1 Peter 1:13).

Your focus can also be strengthened by associating with people who will help you think on the right kind of things. Stay away from negative, toxic people. Unfortunately, some of those folks are family members or long-time friends.

Proverbs 13:20 in the New Living Translation says:

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

6.God is focused. . .should we be any less?

Luke 2:49 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father’s house and [occupied] about My Father’s business?”

If something is important to God, then it should be important to us. He wants you to have more than enough.

When it comes to focusing on our future. . .Jesus gives us very specific instructions on how to ask and receive.

Matthew 7:7 says:

7.Focus will produce the faith we need to accomplish our goals and dreams.

Luke 17:5-6 in The Living Bible says:

“One day the apostles said to the Lord, “We need more faith; tell us how to get it.” “If your faith were only the size of a mustard seed,” Jesus answered, “it would be large enough to uproot that mulberry tree over there and send it hurtling into the sea! Your command would bring immediate results!”

Focus strengthens faith which produces miracles.

How do you achieve your goals and dreams in 2015 … by focusing on the Word.

Romans 10:17 says:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

That’s focusing on the Word. . .then you’ll find every answer you’ll need in 2015.