Category: Focus

Maybe you’ve seen the sign: Don’t even think about parking here.

I’ve seen it in garages and alleys and car lots everywhere, even Rio de Janeiro. The person behind this sign was nothing short of a genius, demonstrating a profound understanding of how our thoughts and behaviors so often coincide.

That’s because  if you think of parking in this no-parking zone, and you think about it long enough, there’s an increased chance you’ll talk yourself into it:

“Surely this is meant for others, not me. Who’s rule is this anyway, and who made them the boss? I really need to park here. Besides, I’m not hurting anyone. Let them try to stop me; I’ll park where I want.”

Of course, this line of reasoning never ends well. Your vehicle gets towed and you get to spend a small fortune and a big part of your afternoon getting it back.

As it turns out, you’re far better off not not even thinking about it.

A couple of weeks ago I posted about the to-don’t list — things you decide you’ll not do today.

Today I’m suggesting you develop a do-not-even-think-about-it list — those memories and speculations and whims and wishes that have no place in your thought life, and no business being further entertained.

Which items might make your list?

• Something hurtful someone said.
• A past event that’s better forgotten.
• A foolish notion you’re reluctant to abandon.
• The temptation to say or do anything outside the will of God.
• The desire to disapprove and condescend to others.
• Regrets, resentments, and all their reminders.
• Plus any of the many could-have-beens that frequently populate our lives.

We could easily spend our days nurturing thoughts and ideas that ultimately guide us nowhere good.

Or we can adapt the advice of one ever-so-brilliant sign-maker: Don’t even think about parking your thoughts in this location.

Let us therefore take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:5) … and let the Spirit of God renew our thoughts and attitudes (Ephesians 4:23) … that we may be transformed by the renewal of our minds. (Romans 12:2)

n his book Out of the Blue, Orel Hershiser attributes his success as a major league pitcher to his ability to concentrate on the next pitch.

When he was on the mound, he couldn’t afford to worry about an earlier mistake, or a bad call, or the power hitter sitting in the on-deck circle.

When he gave up a homerun on a pitch he should never have thrown, he couldn’t relive it.  He had to put it out of his mind and direct his focus to the next pitch.

His ability to do this accounts for the records he broke and the awards he won.

In the same way, we need to give our full attention to each day as it comes to us. We can’t dwell on all that took place in the days before. Neither can we worry about what might happen in the days to come.

Our only hope for effective living is to concentrate on living this day in a way that brings glory to God.

It’s not easy, but imagine what can be accomplished when all your energy is directed toward a single day. And imagine what could happen if that day were today.

Jesus told his followers, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

As you begin this new day, there may be some leftovers from the past you’re tempted to dwell on, as well as some major challenges waiting on deck.

Don’t let them distract you. Focus today only on today: the next pitch, the next step you take, the next call you make, the next project to complete.

Give today all the attention it requires. And see how it yields results for the glory of God.

© 2007/2024. This post originally appeared at PreachingLibrary.com

Albert Einstein once said of his accomplishments: “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

We tend to attribute Einstein’s greatness to his genius. He attributed it to his persistence.

Missionary and social reformer William Carey said something similar…

“I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”

Like Einstein, Carey attributed his accomplishments not to his own brilliance, but to simple persistence.

I love both of these quotes because these are strengths — persistence and perseverance — that anyone can choose to employ.

You may never be as talented as you would like, or have access to all the resources you want, and you may not see the immediate results you were hoping to see … but you can plod. You can stay with each task longer than others do. And you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Steady plodding brings prosperity…(Proverbs 21:5)

Today, like every day, you can be just as persistent as you want to be.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

© 2011/2024. This post originally appeared at PreachingLibrary.com

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:8-9)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Many people, if not most, navigate the day with some kind of prepared agenda:  a to-do list. It’s an essential element in getting things done, keeping you on target and on track throughout the day. And, of course, nothing feels better than marking through each item, one by one.

I love a to-do list, and here’s a twist on the idea that works just as well.

I’m talking about the To-Don’t list: Itemized reminders of the things I will not do today. Such as…

• Today I won’t eat sugar.
• Today I won’t watch TV.
• Today I won’t camp out on social media.
• Today I won’t raise my voice.
• Today I won’t engage in self-pity.

Sometimes the list will consist of actions that might be OK on other days, but this day you’re taking a break, such as putting down your phone for the afternoon or taking a day off from your hobby.

Other times the list is made up of actions and attitudes we must always avoid, and today you need that special reminder to steer clear of temptation: I will not think these thoughts, I will not say these words, I will not entertain this idea.

In Psalm 101 King David declared:  I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. (Psalm 101:3 NASB)

In Psalm 119 it became his prayer: Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. (Psalm 119:37)

Here is where we discover the power of the list. Avoiding the don’ts gives us more time for the greatest to-do of all: seeking God’s greater presence through the life-sustaining gift of his Word.

Failure isn’t final.

I don’t know who said it first, but every inspirational speaker since has said it at least once. That’s because it’s true. Failure is neither final nor fatal. You can make a comeback.

Today, however, I want to talk about the other thing that is never final.

I’m referring to success. It lasts such a short time. Maybe only a day. And then it’s time to go out and do it all over again.

It happens every time you finish a project. Or close the deal. Or reach your target weight. Or mark an item off your to-do list. Or get through the day without falling apart. Yes, it’s a cause for celebration, a personal pat on the back, but then tomorrow you’ll need to pick up where you left off and keep moving on.

Some pursue success as if it’s a destination, thinking that once you get there, you never have to leave. As it turns out, it’s just a short visit. You’re there for merely a moment, and then you’re back on the trail.

This is especially true in the Christian life. The battles won yesterday were yesterday’s battles. Today a new challenge will arise. That’s why Jesus reminds us that the disciple’s journey is day-to-day…

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Failure is never final, thanks be to God. Each new day brings with it a new opportunity to do things right.

Let’s also remember that success isn’t final either. It’s never a destination. It’s always a daily process.

Today is the only day. This means we shouldn’t fret about tomorrow:

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34 The Message)

And it means that we need to let go of the past:

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)

Today is the only day.

Stephen Covey tells a great story that demonstrates the importance of keeping priorities straight. He saw it at a seminar:

The leader showed the audience an empty wide-mouthed gallon jar, then put as many rocks in the jar as would fit.

He asked the crowd, “Is this container full?”

Of course, everyone said, “Yes.”

The leader smiled, then poured some gravel into the jar, filling the crevices between the rocks. He asked again, “Is it full?”

The crowd was beginning to catch on; most of them said, “Probably not.”

Next he poured some sand it into the jar. “Now is it full?” he asked.

They had learned the lesson. In unison they shouted, “No!” And they were right; he then filled the jar with water.

Afterwards the seminar leader asked, “What’s the point here?”

Someone said, “Well, there are gaps, and if you really work at it, you can always fit more in your life.”

The seminar leader said, “That’s not the point! The point is this: If you hadn’t put these big rocks in first, you never would have gotten them in!”

He’s saying: Make sure you do the big stuff first.

It’s a habit we all need to develop. We’re tempted to tend to the nagging little details first, hoping to get them out of the way so we can focus on job one. The problem, however, is that the nagging little details never completely go away. They keep coming back, and there’s always a couple more on the way.

It’s best to learn to ignore them (for now) and direct your attention to that which really matters.

So, what really matters? This is something we each must define individually. But here’s a clue. Jesus said that the list begins with your relationship to God and his purpose for your life.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

We often spend our days seeking sand and gravel and water, but they’re just filler. The big stuff needs to be done first.

Think about it. What’s your top priority? How will you tend to it today?

© 2006/2024. This post originally appeared at PreachingLibrary.com

George Orwell said this about living with focus: “To see what is front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.”

It’s so easy — much too easy — to find ourselves perpetually distracted, constantly diverting our gaze from what is necessary now, staring instead at that which barely matters at all.

By nature, we all have a short attention span, and our peripheral vision often works more like a telescope. Maintaining eyes-in-front is a never-ending battle.

King Solomon gave us this guideline to follow:

Let your eyes look straight ahead, and fix your gaze directly before you. (Proverbs 4:25)

How might we put this into practice?

Make this day about one thing, and one thing alone.

That goes for this day, and each new day to come.

Every morning, bright and early, we can declare out loud: “If nothing else gets done today, this one thing gets done. And if this one thing gets done, today counts as a win.”

This “one thing” could be almost anything:

– A conversation to make.
– A task to complete.
– It could be the first step of a project you’ve been putting off.
– Or the final step of a project that’s been dragging on.
– It could be to avoid a very old bad habit.
– Or to pursue a brand new good habit.
– It could be to put in a full day’s work.
– It could be to get a good night’s sleep.
– This “one thing” could even be to cross off all the items on a list.

The objective is that we live this day — and every day — with intention. With a sense of direction. With a steadfast focus on what matters most.

Not tending to everything all at once may seem, at first, almost lazy. There’s something about feeling frazzled that lets us think we’re at least moving in the right direction.

But frazzled rarely gets the job done.

No doubt, for all of us, we have much to keep us busy, and there’s still so much do.

Surely we’ll get there … one fully focused day at a time.