I paused from making lunch to find a telephone number for the gas company. One swipe and the most recent app appears on my phone. It opens the memo pad where I started a grocery list a few minutes earlier. This time I remember to add detergent plus the decaf coffee I keep forgetting to buy.
As I switch back to the home screen, a pop-up appears reminding me to email my daughter’s dance teacher about the change in schedule.
Speaking of dance, what was the name of that song she liked? I’d promised to let her listen to some music on my phone while she got ready for school. I quickly open the search bar in YouTube as I walk to her room.
‘Did you call them yet?’ asks my husband from the other room.
Oops.
I had completely forgotten to look up the number.
That level of distraction is fairly normal around here.
But what about the bigger things?
Are we as easily distracted from accomplishing our purpose?
In this world of glamorized multi-tasking prowess how do we focus on the important things? How do we make our one thing the main thing? Is it a matter of combining purpose and self-discipline?
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Focus on the reward
The Bible very clearly tells us that everyone who competes goes into strict training. Hard work, purpose and self-discipline are standard for any serious athlete. The question is, what is the reward at the end?
Every year my kids compete in races and every year there’s guaranteed to be prizes. I can look back at the prizes they won in years past and see how they’ve tarnished in a short space of time. The bronze, the silver, even the gold, have all lost their luster.
The prize that we are pursuing isn’t like my kids’ track meet medals. No, the prize that Jesus offers for the one who follows Him to the end is an eternal prize — one that will last forever!
Since it is such a worthy prize, how can we stay focused on achieving it?
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Run with purpose and self-discipline
To win the race and get the prize we need purpose and self-discipline. Simply showing up and running a few laps around the track will not cut it.
When it comes to living a life of purpose for God, it’s the same thing. It’s not enough for me to clock in when I feel like it. I need to keep my purpose ever before me and make it my goal to live it out daily.
I feel strongly that God has called me to encourage women in their walk with Him. Yet there are times when I get tired of giving and would love to retreat to my own little world. This is where strict training becomes so important.
I can’t allow minor distractions and selfish desires to derail my life purpose. And if the level of distraction that I have with my phone is any indication, then I really need to up my game.
Perhaps your purpose has been on pause. Maybe you’ve forgotten the reason you entered the race to begin with.
Ask yourself: how am I spending my minutes? My hours? My days? Are they leading me closer to God and what He’s called me to? Are they setting me up to win an eternal prize?
If not, consider taking some time away to refocus.
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Prove faithful
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25: 20-21
(Read the full story here)
God has a role carved out specifically for you alone. To help you accomplish this, He’s provided a unique set of talents and resources. How are you doing with what He’s given you? Are you proving faithful like the men with the two and five talents (bags of gold)? Or are you like the man with one talent who hid it away?
Friend, let us prove faithful with our God-given gifts. Let us look forward to hearing Jesus say, “well done good and faithful servant”.
What about you?
Are you focusing on the heavenly prize?
Are you running with purpose and self-discipline?
I pray that you will be encouraged by these women who are living out their purpose and seeking to keep the prize ever before them.
Our ultimate goal is to please God here on earth and to be with Him eternally in heaven. Let us continue to call each other higher and let us run the race so as to win the prize.
Wishing you blessings,
Did you know that this is Part 4 of the #LifePurposeFull series? Be sure to follow along with the rest of the series here:
Introduction: In Pursuit of Your One Thing
Part 1: 3 Truths to Embrace on Your Path to Purpose
Part 2: How to Find Your Missing Piece
Part 3: When You Fear You’re Missing Out on Your Purpose
And to see what purpose looks like in the lives of real women, pull up a chair and grab a note book. These eight women blessed my socks off with what they shared in this post:
Powerful Purpose Thoughts to Ignite Life to the Full
Be sure to sign up for Sparkle Highlights so that you’ll receive email updates on future posts. Just for joining the Sparkle community, I’ll send you a free set of P.R.A.Y. scripture cards.
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Let us prove faithful to God with our God-given gifts. So important to remember. Thank you, Marva.
I work toward those goals everyday, but I often fall short. And I can relate to the easily distracted. I think God is telling me something about all those notifications. I’ve pared down many, but should do more. Thanks for a great post. I’m visiting today from “Dance with Jesus.”
Hi Donna, I know what you mean about falling short of our good intentions. I think we certainly should keep striving to improve and at the same time rely on God’s grace for moments when we slip and fall.
Thanks for stopping by from Dance with Jesus!
Fantastic post! Reminding myself to keep my eye on the prize today 🙂
Yes, Kiva! We really need to keep our eyes lifted and our hearts committed. With God’s help we will make it to the finish line.
It’s so nice of you to stop by and share your sparkle with us!
Ah, friend, it is so easy to lose our focus in this crazy, whirling world. I love this post! I love your reminder to keep our eyes on the finish line, the main thing. Thank you for linking with us at The Loft. You bring beauty and encouragement.
Aww… you’re so sweet, Leah. It’s my pleasure to join you all at #TheLoft.
Life really can feel crazy much of the time but God calls me to pause and enjoy the journey. Focusing on the main thing is really my lifeline.
Such a great reminder for me today. Some days it doesn’t feel like I am getting very far but I have to remember that living in God’s purpose is a marathon and I have to take it one step at a time.
So true, Kira. Sometimes I think it’s a sprint and I try to do it all at once — no good! Slow and steady wins the race.
By the way, I loved your post today about the first thing we do when we wake up. I’m sharing it on my Facebook page to inspire others!
What an awesome post with so much to consider … I’ll definitely bookmark this one and be back to mull over some more . One thing that leaped out to me is Jennie Goudet’s statement: “It’s not spiritual to try to do it all.” What????
I definitely want to be focused, disciplined and faithful in pursuing the main thing: my walk with Christ. Thanks for sharing at the Loft today, Marva!
I’d love to hear what other thoughts this sparks, Jerralea. I used to be a big believer of doing it all and having it all but I’ve learned with time and experience (and some painful lessons) that having it all, all at once is not what God wants for me. Something’s got to give and I certainly don’t want that to be my relationship with Him. So much to think about and mull over, right?
I really enjoyed this post! It can be hard to know what to let go of and what to persevere in but if we keep our eyes on Jesus and walk in step with the Spirit, he makes it clear. Good word!
So true, Yvette. That’s exactly why I started this series — in search of my own sense of purpose and need for clarity. I’m so grateful that He makes all things clear in His time. I’m just working on the patience and trust part. 🙂
Marva. Wonderful reminder that there’s more to this journey than getting the prize. I note with joy that in the discipline, the run, the working, that we never accomplish it alone. He is always with us. He knows the sweat on our brow and how we got it, He feels the blisters on our feet and understands the effort of that last mile AND He makes sure the main thing is the main thing in our life: Him. Thank you for sharing at the Loft.
Thanks for being such a gracious and encouraging host at #TheLoft, Christine. I absolutely love hanging out over there with you, Leah and Jerralea.
Thank you joining in the conversation and adding these beautiful words about the race we’re in. You’ve reminded me that we never ever go it alone. I’m so thankful for that truth!
Marva- great post!
The vision board. I had wanted to make one for labor with my last child, but never got around to it. I never thought of doing it now for keeping in the race of life. What an excellent idea!
Something that cheers me on day after day!
Your #SittingamongFriends neighbor,
Julie
Ooh… I love #SittingAmongFriends and I’m so glad we were neighbours there, Julie.
I’m a big vision board fan and have done it a couple times myself as part of my One Word commitment for the year. I love Carlie’s idea to keep it visibly displayed to remind us of our commitment to God (and Him to us). Amazing how such a simple thing can have such a big impact.
Oh, Marva, your first paragraph describes me! Great pointers for staying focused and keeping our one thing THE MAIN thing. Joining you today from Testimony Tuesday!
I’m so glad you stopped by from #TestimonyTuesday today, Ellen. I was really encouraged by the many great posts over there.
By the way, I’m so glad you can relate to my distracted moments. Let’s be sure to keep each other lifted up in prayer so that we can stay focused on the things that really matter.
Another great word on purpose, Marva!
I love this line, “God has a role carved out specifically for you alone.” Don’t you love knowing that God created each of us to fill a certain role that only we can fill?
This gives me such hope!
It sure gives me hope too, Melanie. God really has a special place for us and that is such great news.
Thanks for your constant encouragement and support, my friend. I appreciate you so much!
another great post! I love these scriptures — they help keep us on track..I love how you encourage us to do so in this post. Great suggestions as I so want to procrastinate!
Kathy, what a journey we’ve been on these past four weeks with this series. Thank you so much for sticking with me to see what God had up His sleeve. I feel blessed to have shared the journey with you and I’m encouraged by His great love for us (and His patience too!).
Hugs!
Such inspiration here – and great encouragement to seek God for our purpose and then run after it with all our heart. So glad to visit from #testimonytuesday today!
Thanks for stopping by from #TestimonyTuesday, Tiffany. I’m glad you felt inspired by what God is teaching me. He’s such a patient teacher and I’m so very grateful.
This has been a great series! Those distractions you described in your opening made me smile, I wondered for a second if we were the same person! It sounded so familiar. You’re right, keeping our focus is a discipline. Thank you for this encouragement today.
Dawn, it’s almost laughable how easily distracted I am. I’m glad you can relate because now I don’t feel so alone in my craziness. Haha.
I desperately need God’s guidance every single day! More like every single minute. I’m a mess without Him.
I’ll admit — this is a tough one for me. Everything seems important in the moment. Thanks for urging me to get clear in my mind what the most important things are and to give them my attention first.
Yes, everything seems to be the most important until we bump into something even more urgent. Then we’re off spinning our wheels again. It’s such a vicious cycle, isn’t it Michelle? I’m learning how to re-focus every single day. Thankfully God is still working on us!
Really enjoying this series, Marva! Will be using this post in discussions with my darling daughter. And thanks for sharing my thoughts, as well.
How sweet! I can’t wait to hear how that conversation goes. 🙂
Thanks for being a part of the life-transforming story, Carlie.
Thanks for the encouragement! We are a few months into the school year and, I must confess, I am already weary. This is just the pump me up I needed!
Yep, I’m right there with you, Kelly. I once heard it said that being consistent is the most radical thing we could ever do and I believe the same is true with discipline. When the going gets tough I want to quickly throw in the towel but God is reminding me to fight through my feelings and finish strong.
We can do this! With His help, of course.
Thanks for including my quote, Marva! 🙂
You’re so welcome, Jennie. I’m glad that you’re willing to be used by God to share His message of hope with other women.
Sending you hugs across the waves. 🙂