Why and How to Refocus --- Dr. Mensah Otabil

To focus on something is to make it the center of your attention. It is when something becomes a prime target as well as a priority.
No matter how well focused we are at any given time, we tend to lose our focus over time. When that happens, we need to refocus. We need to reset our priorities and pursue the important things in our lives.
Many of us have lost focus concerning the priorities we set for ourselves this year.
Today, I want to encourage you to REFOCUS.
Usually when we start something new we seem focused. When we start a relationship, a venture or an activity, we start with a focus. We start a New Year with focus.
However, in the passage of time, we tend to lose focus and drift away from the thing that used to hold our attention.
The Galatian church had such a problem that made the Apostle Paul write in…
Galatians 5:7–9 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
The Apostle Paul was surprised at how the Galatian church had lost focus. They started well. Then they were hindered or frustrated.
In verse nine he shows that the things that hindered them started as, ‘a little leaven’, which ends up leavening the whole lump.
What are the ‘little leavens’ in your life hindering you from running well.
These ‘little leavens’ can make us lose our focus in life.
FIVE ENEMIES OF FOCUS
• Distractions – when other things become priority. A distraction is a new attraction that occupies your attention. Has something else taken over your time and priorities this year?
• Disorder – when we lack discipline. Disorder clutters our lives. It happens when we place things in the wrong place. Take a look at your life. Do you have the discipline to keep the non-essentials out of your life?
• Delays – when things don’t happen fast enough. One of the main reasons why we lose focus is because something we wanted got delayed. As a result of the delay, we stopped moving ahead and just waited. Don’t allow delays to derail your focus.
• Discouragements – when we suffer setbacks. Sooner or later something will discourage you. You will suffer a setback. That setback can make you lose the drive you had from the beginning. When things don’t go the way you want it, learn to encourage yourself.
• Doubts – when we think we’re not capable. This is when we really lose our focus in life. We lose confidence in ourselves. We belittle our own efforts and feel as if what we want in life will never become are reality.
Have you lost focus?
Do you need the ‘lenses’ of your life readjusted?
Jesus did that for a man once…
Mark 8:22–25 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Three conditions are associated to this man that Jesus met in Bethsaida.
The first condition is…
• NO VISION: he depended on others to lead him. When the blind man had no vision, he was led by the hand. He followed other people’s vision. He could not direct himself. People with no vision become followers of other people’s vision.
I pray that God will give you your own vision. You will not be a follower of other people’s agenda. You will be a follower of God’s agenda for your life.
The second condition is…
• UNFOCUSED VISION: he misinterpreted what he saw. After Jesus touched him the first time the blind man saw men as trees walking. He saw something but what he saw was not accurate. His vision was not focused. When you see men as trees, you will treat them like trees.
People with unfocused vision distort the meaning of what they see. When they see an opportunity, they call it danger. When they’re faced with a Goliath they see defeat instead of promotion to the throne.
Are you misinterpreting the things you see?
I pray that every distortion in your vision will be cleared. May the Lord deliver you from every spirit of deception and fear as you enter the New Year.
The third condition is…
• CLEAR VISION: he saw things, as they should be. Jesus touched him a second time so he could have clear vision. I believe Jesus wants to give you a second touch. He wants to clear up our vision. He wants to help us refocus. Whose with clarity of vision see things the way God wants them to see it.
He wants to remove the things that cloud your vision. He wants to give you clarity.
Receive a second touch for clarity in the coming year, in Jesus' name!
In the name of Jesus, I declare, ‘clarity, clarity, clarity’ over your life. Your vision will be clear. Your purpose will be clear. Your assignment will be clear.
Assignment: Ask God to show you the one thing He wants you to focus on.
In 2013, Jesus wants to help your refocus. He wants to bring fulfillment into your life. I pray that whatever blinded you in the past will be removed from you.
You will not be blinded by fear and failure. Instead, God will give you grace to jump over every hindrance in your way. You will not be led by others. You will be led by divine vision. You will see clearly. You will achieve your purpose.
RECEIVE CLARITY, NOW, IN JESUS’ NAME!!!