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What Is Your Focus?

ByMark Lewelling. Th.D. Audio Teachings, What is Your Focus
What captures your attention? Too often, we focus on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. Allow the Word to pinpoint your attention with laser accuracy.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJ)
What are you putting your faith in? Your focus.
Adam and Eve had everything they needed in the Garden of Eden. They wanted for nothing. The devil showed up and pointed out the one and only thing they “lacked.” And he’s been doing that ever since.

Matthew 6:21-22 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (KJV) (as opposed to duplicity or betrayal)

The things you focus on are what you deem to be most important. The enemy’s trick is to get us to major on the minors; to look at what we don’t have instead of what we do.

Hebrews 12:1-2 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, 2 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. (NKJ)

Verse 2 Berean Standard Bible Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, NLT We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, NAS looking only at Jesus, AMP [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, 
Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by the things you don’t see.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJ)

Faith is the currency of Heaven.

1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (NKJ)

Satan wants us to look at the things we lack instead of looking to the Lord. It comes in subtle ways; in the little things we say. Like, “I don’t see anything wrong with that.” When things are out-of-focus, we are defined as legally blind. This was Paul’s prayer for the Church.

Ephesians 1:16b-23 … making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJ)

Where did Paul get this terminology? From Jesus Himself when He struck Paul with blindness on the road to Damascus.

Acts 26:17b-18 … to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ (NKJ)

Jesus also quoted Scripture from Isiaih 6:9-10.

Matthew 13:14-15 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ (NKJ)

Obviously, the problem is not with our eyes, but with our heart. Or as Jesus put it, “our understanding.”

Psalm 119:34-38 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way. 38 Establish Your Word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You. (NKJ)

Proverbs 3:1-8 My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. NKJ)



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