Focus is one of the first steps in dynamic leadership and effective ministry. Without focus you are apt to drift along with the current, repeating previous mistakes and taking the course of least resistance. It has been reported that sheep get lost by nibbling away at the grass and never looking up. The same can often be said of us. We focus so much on what is immediately before us that we fail to see life in larger perspective. Without clear focus your direction and effort is not nearly as determined or intentional and you settle for:

+    Fighting Brushfires

You seem to move from crisis to crisis in you leadership pilgrimage,     battling the tyranny of the immediate. Unwittingly you have traded     strategic leadership for "crisis leadership."

+    Following Fads

We often become enamored with the slick new program marked by a fresh     gimmick. We are impressed by the "sizzle" rather than the "steak."

+    Repeating the Past

Without a clear focus, you settle for repeating the same programs,     ministries, or outreaches. Your memories are greater than your dreams!

The Apostle Paul demonstrated focus when he wrote, "I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward. So let's keep focused on that goal..

If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision - you'll see it yet! (Philippians 3.13-15, The Message) His purpose and focus was sharp and certain as he pressed toward the goal of pleasing Christ.

Our dreams define and shape us. And focus makes the difference. Godly focus grows out of obedience and motivates us to active faith. Is your leadership marked by a clear focus as you work toward your God given goal? Is your life characterized by that kind of clarity? Don't be satisfied with anything less!