Sadly, many people have no focus or direction in their lives. They are just drifting aimlessly. They are aiming at nothing and they are hitting it every time!
We need focus in our life. We need direction.
No matter what kind of traveling you’re doing, whether it’s through life or across the country by car, if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never know if you’ve arrived. Taking just any road will leave your fulfillment to chance. That’s not good enough.
How to find your focus in life
We need to order our lives in such a way that we are intentionally paying attention to the things that matter most to us.
Our crammed schedules, endless to-do lists, demanding jobs and families, constant noise and anxieties keep us from actually making the changes we desire.
We often find ourselves unfocused and distracted.
Living out our priorities calls for a conscious, purposeful plan. It requires thoughtfulness.
My plan
For myself, I have broken down the priorities of my life into four different categories: My relationship with God, My relationships with others, Work or activity and Rest.
1. My relationship with God:
- Daily focused time in prayer and reading the bible.
- Yearly getaway for spiritual growth and refreshment.
- Read 2 books a month.
- Deepen prayer life.
2. My relationships with others:
- Make Lauren my number one relational investment.
- Focused connecting time with Bethany, Sydney and Mallory from after supper to bedtime.
- Be part of a care group.
- Intentional connections with people in and outside the church.
- Find a mentor/coach.
3. Work/activity:
- Refine and teach spiritual formation practices: belonging, believing, becoming and being.
- Delegate and empower ministry leaders.
- Blog 4-5 times a week.
- Finish unfinished projects around the house.
- Practice financial stewardship.
4. Rest:
- Be home more nights than I am out.
- Walk 3-5 times a week.
- Schedule life around breaks instead of breaks around life.
- Find and pursue a hobby.
- Read a book a month at home.
- Weekly Sabbath.
Your turn!
Spend some time this week writing out your priorities. You don’t have to use these four categories but they are a great start.
Don’t be like the people who are drifting aimlessly through life. Find your focus and live it out!
What are some of your priorities right now?
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Do you live your life with intentionality?
In order to win at life we must have direction
Great plan Keven. I hear from so many people who are still trying to find their way – figure out who they are and what they want in life. I believe it all starts with becoming clear about your core values, which enables us to set our highest life priorities. As far as where to start – as far as I’m concerned, don’t worry about where to start… just take the first step and start!
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marquita herald recently posted…Need a Change? Finally Ready to Tell Life What You Really Want?
Great points Marguita! A plan without action is not of much worth.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…3 wise choices we need to make
Great idea, Kevin. You know I’m all about the intentionality! It’s good to honestly evaluate our priorities because what we say and how we live can be very different indeed. Thank you.
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Jason Stasyszen recently posted…God Likes Surprises
Thanks for sharing Jason!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…6 practical ways to confront people’s blind spots
“Schedule life around breaks instead of breaks around life.” This slice of wisdom caught my eye. I’ll be thinking about it today. thanks, Kevin.
This has been revolutionary in my life. It has helped me in so many ways!
Thanks for sharing Sandra!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Who are you influencing?
Although you quoted someone else, the quote “They are just drifting aimlessly. They are aiming at nothing and they are hitting it every time!” was very thought-provoking. It makes me realize that this is happening to many others, but I don’t always realize it, because God provides the focus in my life.
Your list to become more focused incorporated all aspects of a person’s life, including breaks. It leaves lots for me to be prayerful about. Thanks! Debra Seiling http://bible-passages.blogspot.com
Debra Seiling recently posted…Alarmed about Using God’s Name in Vain!!!
Thanks for sharing Debra!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…If you want to make your life count you must have passion
You and I must’ve been thinking along the same lines this past week or so, Martin. I just wrote a blog post recently asking the question, “Where Are You Going?” We definitely need direction in our lives, but far too often people look for direction outside themselves and in “the doing” rather than in “the being”. It all starts within and discovering who we are and what our true life’s purpose is. A real challenge at times, but it all starts with, as you say, planning life around breaks and quiet time rather than the other way around.
Thanks, my friend, for a great post.
Steve Vernon recently posted…Who Are You Listening To?
Great points Steve!
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…If you want to make your life count you must have passion
A friend, who was my dean of women at Bible college years ago and has spent the last 30 years as a missionary in Africa, asked me this summer, “What are you here for? What special work does God have for you to do?” It’s humbling to admit that I don’t know the answer. Not specifically enough to make a definite plan for its fulfillment. Kinda strange to find myself in that position of not knowing, at age 59… But it’s never too late with God.
Willena Flewelling
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Willena Flewelling recently posted…When Your World Turns Upside Down
Some times God unfolds His plans a little bit at a time and we just need to keep doing what we are doing until He prompts us otherwise.
Thanks for sharing Willena!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…4 benefits of community
Hey Keven…I have been giving this very idea a lot of thought lately. I like this concept of priorities w/action steps and am going to make my own lists…today!
One thing I have been doing is, before starting on yet another new program or project to ask myself is this getting me closer or further away from my main intentions. That has been helpful as I tend to be a little on the ADHD side…like a lot of people who do this kind of marketing:) Thanks for your post!
Celeste Smucker recently posted…Brain Supplements to Keep You Young and Active
That is a great question to ask Celeste!
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Some people choose not to change
Hi Kevin,
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Lately I have been doing many things, being tired from doing a lot, but still at the end of the day, I still feel something is amiss. Thanks for sharing this post, as I can take a step back and think about what I should really do with my life. I will make a list for this week and sort out things so I can spend my time wisely and do things that will make me contented and satisfied at the end of the day. Thank you very much!
Felicia recently posted…WSOPE Event #5: Mixed Max NLHE: Massive Chipleader Brandon Cantu To Face Phil Hellmuth
It is too easy to get caught up doing a lot of things but not being able to any of them well. It much more beneficial to do a few things well.
Thanks for sharing Felicia!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…We were never meant to work seven days a week
interesting i wrote about my plan this morning and realized this too, how i had no direction or plan. thanks for sharing
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Kevin Martineau recently posted…Don’t give up!