So far, we’ve discussed the importance of remaining focused on God and the work He has set before us. Dwight L. Moody, a renowned revivalist preacher from the 1800s, is quoted as saying, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him….” Moody’s desire was to be the kind of person who was totally focused on God.
As we think about fine-tuning our focus, we’re going to look at some strategies we can apply to help us stay concentrated in our own lives. One industry that has put a lot of thought into this idea of ‘staying focused’ is the business world. Entrepreneurs, CEOs, salesmen—they’re all trying to maximize their time by targeting their attention and, in turn, become more successful.
The serial entrepreneur and founder of High Performance Lifestyle, Kosio Angelov, stated the following in regard to staying focused, “Your ability to concentrate, to focus all of your attention on the task at hand, is going to determine how productive you’re going to be and how fast you’re going to achieve your goals.”
Even though Angelov is in the business of wealth maximization, his 5 Steps to Boosting Concentration can easily be applied to our walk with and focus on God.
Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home). As you write these bullet points on the whiteboard (or screenshared document), have your students copy down the following list. After writing each bulleted entry, take a few moments to dig deeper into each item with your class (helpful comments and suggestions are provided after each header in the following list).
Eliminate Distractions
Spend a few moments identifying the distractions in your life that are pulling your focus away from God. Here’s a question to guide your thinking: Are there any activities, relationships, or environments that are distracting you from God?
Train Your Focus Muscle
Just like building muscle, training your focus requires frequent, consistent exercise in order to become stronger. Set aside a regular time each day to focus on God and listen to what He has to say.
Do the Hard Things First
There may be something right now that you know God has called you to do, but you haven’t done it yet out of fear or feelings of inadequacy. This could be sharing the Gospel with a friend, standing up for what you know is right in a tricky situation, or something else entirely. The point is, we shouldn’t procrastinate the hard stuff; go out and finish what God has called you to.
Have and Follow a Plan
Boosting your focus is greatly benefitted by having a clear plan to follow. We may not know what that plan is, but God does! Begin your morning by praying, asking God to reveal His plan in your life that day.
Take Regular Breaks
Staying focused on God’s goals is hard work. Replenishing your storehouses is an integral part of remaining steadfast in the face of challenge. After all, on the seventh day, God rested—who better should we follow as an example? Refresh your concentration with a nature walk or star-gazing outing, etc.
Once your teens have their lists created, challenge them to put these ideas into practice in the coming week. Encourage the class to work through their checklists each day, doing all of the actions listed and documenting any change that occurs in their faith in the process.
Close in prayer, thanking God for giving us purpose through the plans He’s laid out for our lives.
5 Steps to Boosting Concentration Source
