One of my Facebook friends posted: “Tuesday’s boxing class I noticed that the word ‘thin’ was in the wording on the bag (‘Greatness is Within’) so I focused on that to keep me going. Today I noticed the word ‘eat’….uh oh.”
What we focus on is essential to the outcome of our situations, because our focus impacts our experiences and attitudes. Have you ever had the extra helping of dessert because you’ve “already blown the diet anyway…what will one more bite hurt”? Have you chosen not to connect with a friend who hurt your feelings because she hasn’t called you first? Have you decided not to go to church, to a meeting, or for a walk because you’re running late? Where’s your focus?
We undermine God’s will when we rationalize our behavior or attitude because our focus is on an excuse, shortcoming, or offense instead of the possibility of reconciliation, honesty, and forgiveness.
God has had a purpose for you since before you were born, and even though your life has meandered through some muddy waters and picked up unnecessary and unwelcome junk along the way, God’s purpose hasn’t changed. He works through the impurities. God’s purpose is pure.
God doesn’t make mistakes. He created you to be you, and he has every intention to use your strengths and weaknesses, experiences and skills, heartaches and passions to guide you along your road of pure purpose. Whether you march forward with determination or stumble along with sore feet and uncertain steps, your focus can match God’s focus, which is on the horizon. Some days it looks beautiful and inviting, and sometimes the haze and swirling rains obscure our view. But whether we see it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, God’s purpose is set before us.
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)
Will you seek his pure purpose, starting today, one step at a time?