Focus and vision
And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. 1 Chronicles 12:32-33
I cannot seem to get away from these verses. This chapter has kept coming back to me for days now. These men weren’t just any men, but they were warriors and men on a mission. They were crystal clear and confident about what they were to do and so must we be! Do we know all things? Certainly not but we must be certain about what we stand and fight for, and Who we follow.
These men had undivided loyalty and one goal in mind. They had laser focus to do just that! They were not divided in heart or mind. They were whole heartedly in. They weren’t confused on which option to take or whatever seemed like the best option at the time, but one thing and it wasn’t optional to them. They weren’t on the fence. They came to fight for David and they had his back. God came to fight for you. It’s time to make up our minds to fully dedicate our lives and to give all back to Him. These men knew what to do, they understood the times and the mission. Do you? Seek God. It’s time.
All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 1 Chronicles 12:38
It all begins in the heart and mind. They knew their place and had a made up mind to not only do but to accomplish and see through what they came to do, and they didn’t have a divided heart about it or on the issue. That’s where it’s all at; —-> the heart and the mind. If they aren’t untied and on the same page, then they aren’t unstoppable. The two must align to become one or they’re split. A split heart and mind aren’t going in the same direction. Have you ever been in a place physically but mentally wishing you were somewhere else because your heart wasn’t there. If the heart and mind aren’t right, nothing else is. Seek to get those right before you begin.
It’s time to get focus and vision, and to realign. Vision is what we see in our minds and what we focus on. We must have something in or sights or we have nothing at all in which to obtain. A hunter knows what he’s hunting for and until he finds it, he keeps doing what he does; hunting and searching. When he finds it, he has to be close enough to put it in his sights. Just because you don’t feel close, doesn’t mean you aren’t and even if you aren’t, you don’t just stop! Once he thinks he can get a shot, he puts his sights on the target and he is confident about his aim. If he thinks too much about it, he won’t be confident and his mind will be all over the place. He knows what he came for and that’s what he’s going to do. You and I must know what we’re going for before we can aim. If we don’t know, we can seek God and His will. He will give us indicators but we must take the first steps in that direction.
Jesus is looking for those who are all in. He knows that they will fail and abandon the faith and if they’re not all in. Fear will hold you back. A double heart and mind will keep you out if not aligned for a sole purpose.
We must be of a single heart and mind and be careful not to dwell on and get stuck in the past or worried over the future. But to be fully present, faithful and engaged. There’s no two ways about it. It’s the only way and place to be. Right here. Right now. Fully dedicated and fully determined. Fully dependable. David shot straight with the men in the beginning as they began to come to him:
And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, “If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.”
God is looking for loyal and undivided hearts and minds…. Not half in and half outers.
We must give our foot, minds and hands (heart and soul) to what’s we are doing. What are we doing? What are we working towards? Anything? Or, just whatever comes our way? If that’s the case, we wander aimlessly and don’t know where we’re going. Ecclesiastes tells us to sow our seeds in morning and in evening not withhold our hands or let them be idle, for we don’t know what will succeed or prosper (come from it). In other words, “Give it all you got.” Don’t hold back anything. But know what you’re working towards. It’s investments of faith, step by step and day by day.
God is for and with you. That’s the main reason why you can do anything that He’s called you to, and may our main goal be to live to please Him. He wants us to have vision and something to work and go towards. A mind made up is a mind sold out to whatever it’s made up to. May we have open hearts and minds to find out what it is that He wants us to do and then set them on that.
Hard work coupled with mindset, heart and the right attitude is one beyond compare! These are the kind of people that God are looking for. Not perfect but loyal.
We know that without vision, we perish. Where there’s no vision, we cast off restraint because what’s the use of trying or being disciplined when we have nothing to work toward? What’s the meaning of life without purpose and vision to accomplish something in particular? The fact is, God made us all on purpose and for a purpose and until we find that purpose, nothing else will make sense, no matter how young or old. We were made for so much more than we realize but we must tap into that untapped potential. He wants to use us at every stage of life, or we wouldn’t be here and we should all long to hear the words “Well done”, “My good and faithful servant, well done.’ Everything we do or don’t do is leading up to that day, and so everything that we do or don’t do, should align with the faith.
If we’re not careful, serious and diligent to seek vision and determine to achieve, work towards and carry it out, then we will always wonder and wander aimlessly until we do. There is a too late but as long as here, life and hope exist if we seek it out... We can wonder our whole where we’re supposed to be, what we’re supposed to be doing and what we’re here for. We can miss the mark if not willing to step out to find out.
It requires seeking and finding, and then focusing and honing in on our skills. Laser focus is the only focus we should have. God didn’t put us here to do what He did not enable and equip and empower us to do, but what He did. We all have special and unique talents, qualities and abilities. Focus on yours for you’ll never be able to do someone else’s as intended. Although God can give us grace to do the things we didn’t ask for. We need to know what we were born to do and to do what we were made to do.
Most of us give up too soon. Some never know. Some aren’t willing to do what it takes because that requires hard work and dedication coupled with lots of grace . It takes focus and most are all over the place; here and there, or worried about this and that. Most just want the next best thing or high, and so they don’t stay loyal or dedicated . They don’t stay focused and it takes laser focus in order to hone in on a skill. We must be disciplined, diligent, alert and vigilant. The men of David’s army in 1 Chronicles 12 are the perfect example of how we should be.
Vision is what we see. We all see something, even if blank. Speaking of vision, the Bible tells us to write it down once when we get a one. To make it clear. What do you see yourself going toward? Not what you see but where you wanna be is what you must enVISION. You gotta see it with your mind before you can ever believe it in your heart. You gotta dream it upstairs first and then get it deep in heart and inside of you. The two correlate and work together. We need write it down to get it out, and we will be one step closer to making it a reality even though it might seem so far away. Because the reality is, this way we can look at it everyday and begin to work toward it and attach goals to our dreams. We can then break those goals down into daily bite size attainable steps to get us there. Life is a journey... If our goal was to eat an elephant, we wouldn’t eat the elephant all at one time, but one bite at a time. It doesn’t overnight. If we expect everything at once we set ourselves up for failure. We won’t start at all if it seems hopeless and impossible, unless we have a vision and goals to work toward. We aren’t overnight successes.
There’s been times when I haven’t had any vision or try, and therefore I obtained nothing but grief. I had nothing to work towards. But in those times that I begin to dream and envision and wrote them down, I not only begin get excited but more clear on what I did want and didn’t want. It takes prayer and action to bring them about. No wonder “where there is no vision, the people perish.” They are going nowhere. It takes steps in the right direction to begin. Nothing is impossible except what you choose to believe isn’t. Just because it’s big and seems so far away doesn’t mean that it’s not achievable. It takes someone to begin and sometimes it takes delegating and help to obtain. Someone may be waiting on you. Someone out there can help you achieve your goals and you can help someone else by providing them a job in which to use their talents. Sometimes it takes a team. We are the body..
The Word of God says that it’ll (the vision) happen at it’s own appointed (appropriate) time! Every vision has an appointment date. Don’t compare yours with another’s. It doesn’t happen before or after it’s supposed to. Don’t miss it. Just because we don’t see it yet, doesn’t mean we don’t continue to pursue! Pursue nothing, get nothing. Even When we wait on one thing, faith still believes and is proactive to work continue working on another thing and keeps living while waiting. That’s proactive and that’s expecting.
As a man THINKS in his HEART, so he is! That’s so powerful. The way we see ourselves shapes and conforms what we do and how we react to life. Thoughts are powerful and thinking is seeing in our imaginations.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
We can go our whole lives seeing things wrong and from the wrong point of view (POV) and miss out on what’s supposed to be. That’s like being lost before we’re found and being blind before we can clearly see. We must seek to see things God’s way and if we seek His direction, then what we seek, we’ll eventually see.
We can’t know it all. We don’t have a blue print but He has the whole layout. We have the map, His Word and His Holy Spirit to lead, guide, direct, protect and support us. But the way that happens is by faith and one step at a time. Step out to find out for faith without works is dead and God can’t steer a parked car. He doesn’t pick us up and turn us around, He steers us in the right direction by His promptings and voice. He does honor faithfulness and can re-direct as necessary. But He expects for us to trial and error, and it’s not a crime or sin to try and fail! It’s a shamed not to! As faith without works is dead, so is fearing everything a dead in trap to keep you stuck and bound in doing nothing or the same ole’, same ole’. We were created for growth and for more and to continually press toward the prize or we’re not excelling or reaching. Being too afraid to step out will keep you stuck. Faith waits but it also trust and steps. Put feet to your dreams.
As long as your heart is right, God desires to give you the desires of your heart. If your heart is wrong, then that’s another story. But, God doesn’t punish you for trusting Him, He honors it! David wanted to build the temple so he planned to start and God knew it wasn’t for him to do but for his son. God didn’t discipline him for wanting this, He honored it and gave it to his son. His willinglness and faithfulness to God got the process started and David didn’t complain! Instead, he invested and was able to make great preparations towards it and invest in his own way. He didn’t sull up and pout or quit. He had a hand in the building.
What is it that you truly believe in your heart is the right NEXT thing for you to do today!? Do that! Because we’re not promised tomorrow and He said sufficient is todays troubles and sufficient is todays grace. We don’t have to have it all figured out or tied with a pretty bow before we begin. Sometimes, all we know is to begin. Faith is activated in the moment and it’s enough! You can’t see ahead so focus on now according to where you want to or see yourself going! Make sure it’s right vision and not double! Make sure and readjust and realign accordingly! All the times that I did something is when other doors begin to open. Also, we can’t go forward looking back and we can’t do anything all the way if we are doubtful and hesitant! We can do it scared but we must put our faith into gear (Action!) or else we stay in reverse looking back, or stuck in park. Just do something. Begin!
We’ve all been given a gift and all we have is today. His grace is sufficient for today, not tomorrow and todays worries are all we can handle. The gift of the present is the greatest gift and opportunity that we have. To be present and offer the gift of our presence and what He gifted us with. Right here and right now in this moment is all we need. His enabling grace is enough.
I believe that by God saying He prefers hot or cold is not only because He’d truly rather us be one or the other and do nothing half way, but also because He knows that luke warmness was once a hot soul who slowly began to die. It held back, quit or gave up and the only solution after lukewarm complacency is cold. That’s the next step. You don’t just warm back up, you have to kindle the flames of faith and keep them stirred every day!
Everyday we need do something no matter how big or small towards your goals and vision. We need stop focusing on extreme moves and focus on the small steps that leads to milestones. No one runs a race with one single leap. Life is a race, not a sprint. Pace yourself accordingly. Yes, there are different seasons and races according to those season. There’s sprints and then there’s cross country runs. Each vision may be different and the rules are too so we must be wide to adjust accordingly. When we accomplish one thing, we should always be planning out and going toward another one according to the end and bigger picture in mind. Put a goal date on it but know that Gods timing and way is perfect. Seek Him. Ask Him. Follow Him. And open doors as they come. He will reroute you if necessary.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8
God doesn’t reprimand you for asking even if He course corrects you. If fact, He says to ask. To seek. to knock. You have not if you ask not or because you ask for all the wrong reasons. A doubter is so full of fear and is constantly losing faith, which to every man has been given a measure of. They won’t do anything but worry. I’ve been there, more than I’d like to admit. We build faith as we use faith. It’s called faith to faith. The more we use it, the stronger we become to face and fight fear. Worry is like a rocking chair. A rocking chair goes back and forth but never goes anywhere, it stays on the porch. It’s time to start stepping out into our destinies to find out and stop being fearful and doing nothing! Take the next best step. When you plan a road trip, you might preplan and prepare but you must leave the driveway if you want to go anywhere.
No matter how it’s not worked out before or how much you tried or messed it up, It’s time to try again! The fisherman toiled all night and caught nothing but when Jesus challenged them to go out and try again, and to cast to the other side this time, they caught a load so big it almost sank the boat. They couldn’t contain it all or pull it all up. Cast out and in and see what comes out! It took faith and obedience to go back out there after trying all night. It didn’t make sense. Faith never does or we wouldn’t need and it wouldn’t require faith.
It’s hard to try again but I promise you not trying will not get you in. Try it again. Do it a different way. Look at Thomas Edison…. And now, thanks to him, we have light! Not only did he not give up after MANY attempts but he never stopped inventing. That’s what he did. He had many patents. Do you think it all came on the first try? No! It took him LOTS of tries even though he was a smart man! Many of the best baseball players who were known for home runs , were also known for just as many if not more strike outs or misses than hits, but they didn’t stop. They went down as legends into the hall of fame for what they did achieve despite possibly wanting to give up. It requires persistence and not giving up but if you don’t know what you’re working for then you don’t know where you’re going!
Maybe it didn’t work the first time but that doesn’t mean when you try again that it won’t work, or that you won’t find a better way to do it. Tinkering leads to solutions but doing nothing leads to nothing and I can tell you that building too high of fences and guarding yourself just locks you in. Be vulnerable to the work of God in you like these men to give it one more shot. God’s for you, not against you. He’s working in you but unless you work back with Him then you aren’t partnering together! He’s already done His part and His Spirit is active and alive inside of you to help you do yours but you must do work and with or you’re working against! Simple as that.
Paul says it best:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
He hasn’t gotten there YET. Faith is the substance of things we HOPE FOR & the evidence of what we do not see, YET! Paul was being a humble man but also a man that refused to give up. It was all In his heart, POV and attitude. Just because days are hard doesn’t mean we can quit. Just look at marriage or kids! We love what we do, and so even when it’s hard, we don’t quit - because we truly believe in what we do! So we march on and endure. Paul did. Jesus did. And so, we must. Nothing great is achieved from giving up. Although sometimes it’s best to give up. That is give up doing it your way, and surrender to God that you can’t do it on your own and ask Him in - knowing it’s the only way you can! (Philippians 4:13 and Zechariah 4) We need vision from God in order to understand and see things the way that He sees.
Not that Paul had already attained what he was aiming for. He wasn’t claiming to have it perfected but he knew that constantly pursuing was constant perfecting, and getting him closer to his goals. He wasn’t quitting and he wasn’t letting his past define him or letting what was behind him slow him down! He had where he was going in sights (in heart and mind) and he was pressing toward IT.
We too need to do get better at forgetting. Not forgetting God's promises or the promises and commitments that we’ve made to ourselves, but to get better at forgetting our past and our failures, and then we could press on past them. It’s not perfection, but persistence pays off! Practice leads to perfect. It’s being present over perfect and not getting wrapped up in what was and no longer is. That’s just a trap and a web to keep us out of our dreams and from going in. Paul had God goals and he knew that pressing was reaching and putting all his weight into that direction. All his eggs were in that one basket. You fall where you lean. Fall into Jesus . You go where you press. Go forward.
It’s time to leave the past behind and move past what no longer serves you or takes you to where you’re going. It’s time to move past your past. Again, life is full of seasons and it’s important to know when the brook is dry. Not selfishly but positively knowing that God is a God of provision and abundance and we cannot survive where His provisions sustain us. It’s time to move on past IT. Whatever it is that’s holding you back.
We must get serious in order to build and move forward. Read the story of Nehemiah! He had a goal in mind and envisioned rebuilding the wall. It begin in his heart and mind to do it. He then begin the process and God showed him favor from beginning to end. Why? Because his heart and intent was right. He started, he was worked against and the enemies tried to delay him, yet he endured. He didn’t let his enemies stop him even though they tried. He put measures and people in place to see this thing though and he finished! God wants us to start but more importantly to finish what we start . We aren’t quitters! We have the Spirit of God to see us through but we must have the hearts and minds like the 1 Chronicles 12 men/warriors to fight for it with singleness of heart and mind, and not be afraid or of a dual purpose.
I’ll be the first to admit, I tend to lose focus. It’s easy to do in this fast pace, ever changing, busy world. But even more so, it’s easy to do without vision to keep our minds fixed on. Whatever our hands find to do, we must begin and are called to work at it with all our hearts and might, and as unto God if we want to succeed.
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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
We’re never gonna get anywhere if we don’t start or if we quit every time we start or eventually. No matter at what point you’re at, know that it’s not to late to get back in the game, back on track and to begin again. It not too late to turn around unless you want it to be. Although His Spirit lives in us we must have the mindSET to see it through. To make up our minds, to make a choice and commitment and to know WHY AND WHERE we wanna go! It may be time to write a mission statement and get real clear. But, without the heart and mindset to follow through, it’ll just be mere words on paper. Add to it. May it be in the way and in the will of God. He will see us through if we rely and lean on Him for help and guidance.
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24
We have some great men and women to look up to who have already went before us and ran their race well but we need to be looking mainly to the One Who is the perfect example and our personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The One Who was and is and is to come, and Who is the “author” and “finisher” of our faith! He is the One Who will guide us and never let us down. He is the One Who overcame, oversees and made a way for you and me. We must follow Him; His lead, promptings and example. NOT other peoples opinions or expectations. He designed you! He didn’t stop and He didn’t let the cross cause Him not go towards it, nor did He let the persecution stop Him from His God given duty and destiny. Sometimes the hard way is the only way to the prize. It’s a race and a fight and we must be willing first to run it by faith and fight for it and never quit!
The word says that: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Looking to Him…..
Now look where He’s at! Where do you wanna be? Stop looking only at where you are at and look to Him. We must have the attitude like Paul that nothing will stop or slow us down. Forgetting and pressing! Throwing off every weight AS IT comes and stop worrying about what happened last time or what could possibly happen and start handling things as they come along. It’s all in the mindset and attitude and I’m determined to see it through. I may not be where I wanna be and I may have slid back but I’m determined to go through. What about you?!
He’ll finish what He starts as long as you cooperate.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6
We’re all works in progress….. All of us, I don’t care who you are, what you have or from what walk of life you came from. We all came from the same God Who formed us and we can do it because of and by the same Jesus Who died for us!
If your visions off, everything else is off. “God, I want to see things from Your POV. I want to see and set my sights on You and What You would have for me to do. I want to have clear aim and make sure that I’m looking at the right things and in the right direction, and that they align with the right goals and plans that You have for my life accordingly. I don’t want to perish or for my kids to perish and live deceived. What we think on we see and what we see we become and what we dwell on is really where we’re at. Even if not in body, we are in heart and soul (mind will and emotions). May I be all in where You want me to be. All in.”
“God, give me vision. Show me what to do. Let me see things from You’re point of view. God, I look to You! “
