We've all heard it. We all know it. Discipline changes us, our character that is. And it's true. Whether we discipline ourselves in career, healthy living, education, or even behavior...we can 'become' whatever our disciplines are aimed toward. We begin to eat/sleep/breath the thing. Our entire existence is connected to it. Apart from voluntary disciplines, there are, involuntary ones, that are enforced upon us by our superiors. Parents, bosses, governments, whomever we position in a form of authority over us. These are the hard ones. But whether chosen or imposed, discipline propels. But it doesn't gaurantee success.
I've written previously about knowing God's voice & how to get yes answers from him. (check the archives on the right for those posts) I wrote those posts with utmost simplicity in mind. I wanted to provide a basic introduction to the 2 topics. So I thought this writing could serve as a ladder. Taking us higher. Giving us a wider view of the fact that.........
Simple doesn't mean easy.... It requires great effort, discipline even, to maintain any relationship, especially one with God.
A friend of mine once proposed that if we discipline ourselves, we are garaunteed to succed. Immediately, I began to think of specific areas of my life in which I needed both discipline & success. My career, my faith, family.... among others. Overall, I agreed with his philosophy. That is, until I took it home with me & began to consider it more closely. I'm not sure if I overthought his comment or if he simply didn't mean it the way I digested it but ultimatley I came to this conclusion:
Discipline, even at its deepest level, can (and probably will) lead to failure. It's just not enough on its own.
Consider this, if discipline brought success 100% of the time, then ALL diligent people would never fail. There would be far less failed businesses, marraiges, friendships, even ministries! We can definitley see this principle come into play in terms of professional athletics. These athletes are all disciplined to the extreme! Yet, when it comes down to winning in their respective competitions, someone always fails.... Therefore, while it is needed, sheer discipline can not be responsible for success.
So just what does give us leverage towards being successful? What's the one skill that must work in conjunction with discipline for us to even stand a chance?
Focus. Focus is a game by game, play by play.... SKILL. That's what wins games. Focus is why lesser teams can demolish a #1 seed. It's why the custodian can traverse the ranks of an organization & become the CEO. It's why there are physically challenged athletes that can out put a non-physically challenged individual. It's why the title of underdog... even exists. Because of focus. See, discipline centers us, focus keeps us centered.
Think of it this way:
Discipline Is:Exercising to reach a goal Focus Is: Continuing exercising beyond your goals
Discipline Is: Going to work when scheduled
Focus Is: Being productive while there
Discipline Is: Saving for a large purchase
Focus Is: Continuing saving for other things
In other words, discipline ends the moment you take the field, enter the boardroom, or start investing.... and FOCUS takes over. Focus continues our momentum. In fact it's focus that produces discipline to begin with. For example, if someone becomes focused(concerned enough to do something) with the fact that they are 'in debt', they become disciplined in order to resolve it. More fully said, if we're to be successful at something, focus must not only precede discipline, it must also follow it. It finalizes success.
So what does this all mean in relation to hearing God's voice and getting answers from him?
A well known pastor has said "No man or woman has achieved an effective personality who is not self disciplined. Such discipline must not be an end of itself, but must be directed to the development of resolute Christian character." Simply stated, discipline without a continued focus, lacks a required tangibility. And that tangibility is what marks success. Lasting success. And until we as seekers add this type of focus to our skillsett, not only will we be unable to discern God's voice.... we'll simply be isolated reserviors of stagnant potential.
Focus, we've all heard of it, we all know we need it. I'm learning about my own focus (among other things) through writing this blog & purposing to bring you fresh & relevant information that will hopefully turn into....inspiration. Being intentional about what I bring to your 'tables' requires me to focus, a few steps ahead of a weekly thought. And I'm figuring out that my skill of focus.... could be more healthy. So exercise I will.
How about you? How has focus helped you succeed? Has lack of focus prevented you from making progress?
What would you add about focus? Leave a comment!
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Helping the growth within, come out
Rodney
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