Tag: focus

Leave The Past Right Where It Is

Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

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Leave the Past Right Where It Is

Social status and titles mean very little to me because difficulties in life show no mercy based on who you are or who you know.  No matter how you look at it, life is not easy.  Nor, do I think it was ever intended to be.  I’ve learned and am still learning that there will be some things in my life that don’t go the way I want, but I can’t just throw in the towel.  I have to make a decision to focus on the positive and live a life of joy and happiness in spite of my past or what I may be experiencing in my present.

Living thousands of miles away from my closest friends and family, I had been really homesick lately.  That was until my mom and aunt came to visit.  I was so happy because I knew that by spending time with them, I would get the encouragement I needed to help get me through the next months before we leave Europe.  Their visit went better than I could have ever imagined, however when they left I felt some kind of way.  I did not realize that I would miss them so much and instead of getting the push I needed, the enemy tried to attack my mind and almost tried to get me to revert back to how I felt when I first got here.  I had to call upon the strength of God deep down inside of me to get me back on track, forget all about my past feelings and focus on my present.  I made the decision to focus on those choices that I can affect and continue to make my life worth living.  While I still miss my family, I make the choice right now to live my life to fullest each and everyday and not allow this situation to get me off focus and regress back to my past behavior.  I know that I have purpose where I am and in spite of how I feel, I must finish the race that has been set before me.

This is just one example I am sharing.  I’m sure you could think of several things you have experienced that maybe did not go the way you want it to go or maybe caused you hurt and pain.  I want to encourage you today.  Whatever it is you are feeling, I am here to say that you can triumph over the challenges and difficulties of life.  It’s all about your outlook, strength of character and determination.  You simply have to choose.  Call upon your faith and trust in God to help you keep walking toward a better future.  Leave your past behind you.  For me, this even includes past behaviors.  If you spend so much time focusing on moments, situations or circumstances from the past, you just might miss the awesome things that God is doing right in front of you or any special moments that are to come.  Learn from it, grow from it but leave your past right where it is. Do not try to take it into your present or the future that God has in store for you.  #iDeclare #LeaveThePastRightWhereItIs

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please help me to leave my past behind me.  Help me to not allow the situations or circumstances of my present to cause me to revert back to things of the past.  Help me to stay focused and determined to live a meaningful life.  I decree and declare that I will choose to focus on the choices I can affect and not miss out on what’s right ahead of me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Scripture Reference:

Philippians 3:13-14 KJV “Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Operate in Excellence

Author, Nicole L. Ross1 Comment

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Everyone is at different levels in life.  It is easy to say that women mature quicker than men, or men work harder than women but in actuality these are all generalizations we make about people that may not be true. Some men mature very quickly and there are several women that would outwork a man any day.  Nevertheless, we must be mindful of generalizations and not getting caught up in what this person is or is not doing.  I feel like we would be so much farther in life if we did not allow our self to get over-involved in other people’s life.  In order to move ahead in life, get on your level and stay there.  Whatever your level is, work it to the very best of your ability.  Do you.  Mind your own business.   Focus in on where you are and what you are doing.  Operating in excellence where you are now will have a direct impact on your future.

As children of God, we are also on different levels spiritually.  We all have a special level of closeness to God.  The closer you are to Him, the more spiritually mature you will be.  Know where you are in your relationship with Christ.  Know your level and I will say it again, when you know your level operate in excellence on that level.  If you know you are an intercessor, do not attempt to pray like other people.  Pray whatever God has placed inside of you the best way you know how and do so with excellence. If you are needed to clean bathrooms or cut the grass, do so with excellence.  If you are on the praise and worship team, study the words so you can know the words and open up your mouth to sing them.

When you operate in excellence, you are honoring God.  Everything you do, whether it is for the church or on your job or in your home you must do it to the glory of God.  I know first hand how easy it is to get caught up in the people around us.  The moment they do or say something to cut you down you are ready to walk away.  You have to put this into perspective though because it is really God that you are walking away from.  If you keep your focus on Him and not man, you are showing God how much you love Him and how much you are truly committed to serving Him and living out His word.  Don’t allow the enemy to make you lose focus.

Excellence does not come by mistake.  It is a habit. It is something we make a conscious effort to strive for.  We have to do it on a consistent basis, relentlessly striving for more and better until it becomes second nature.  As you complete the duties of everyday life, do so with excellence and make your Heavenly Father proud.  #iDeclare #operateinexcellence

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Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, I thank you for giving me a spirit of excellence.  I decree and declare that I will work hard and give my all to everything I do.  I will honor you on my job, in my home, at church and wherever else you need me to be.  I will not allow the enemy to make me lose focus.  I love you Lord and thank you for showing me that when I operate in excellence, I honor you.  My desire is to honor you and please you each and every day of my life.  In Jesus Name, Amen.  

 

Scripture Readings:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.”

Colossians 3:22-24 KJV “servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.”

 

Stay In Your Lane

Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

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It’s amazing to know that God has blessed each and every one of us with our own gifts and talents.  Some people work great with children, some are very organized and do outstanding at administrative and clerical positions, others are very social and work well with other people.  The list goes on and on because we are all such a diverse group of people.  God made us this way and that’s a beautiful thing.  The issue I’d like to discuss today however is about people not necessarily doing what they’ve been blessed to do instead them doing what they want to do.  I feel as though if people would focus on themselves and what’s ahead of them instead of getting caught up in all the craziness and confusion with other people around them life would go so much smoother.  I don’t go bowling often, but I do like to go every now and then because it is a lot of fun.  When I bowl, I have learned that I won’t do a very good job is I am distracted by the activities happening around me on the other lanes.  When it’s my turn, I walk up to my lane, focus on the pins ahead of me think about what I can do to knock them down then roll the ball.  I am not fancy, no twists and twirls like some people because that does not work for me.  If I try to do all of that I may end up hurting myself, literally. But no, what doesn’t work for me works really well for professionals and I am fine with that.  Why, because I do it just for fun for one, and for two that’s just not my gifting.

This concept is prevalent in so many areas of life.  In marriages, family structures, even on our jobs.  A husband and wife should be a team and work together as a team to make their marriage work.  Marriages take a lot of work, dedication and of course focus by both people.  When you add children into the element, they also have a role to play in regards to the structure of the household.  In most jobs, before you even applied for the position you knew what the specific job duties were.  Same thing goes for the body of Christ as well.  The word declares in 1 Corinthians 12 that the human body has many parts but all the parts still only make up one body.  My legs cannot do what my eyes do and my stomach cannot do what my arms do.  All different parts have their own specific duty in order for the body to function all together as a whole.  God has gifted each of us to play a certain role in the church.  When everyone gets on one accord and operates in their gift then the spirit of God is allowed to flow freely and have His way.  In my opinion, this is what the church should be all about.

Why is it so easy to get distracted and get pulled out of your lane?  As I said earlier, we get caught up in not so much doing what we know we should be doing but instead doing what we want to do which totally throws us off course.  We all just need to become skilled at staying on the path that God has laid before us.  If you get knocked off for some reason, jump back on, dust your hands and feet off and continue to move forward.  At this point in my life, I am all about progress.  I will not, to be perfectly honest, I cannot allow anything or anyone to get me off track.  Successful people never worry about what other people are doing. They have enough going on in their own life.  That’s the place I’m at now.  I have so much going on in my life.  I am focused and determined to stay in my own lane so that I can reach the place that God has called me to.  I am determined to leave behind a legacy not just for my children but also for my children’s, children’s, children all throughout my bloodline.  Stay in your lane everybody and see how far it takes you.  #iDeclare #stayinyourlane

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, first and foremost I want to thank you for being you Lord.  I pray today that you would please help me to stay in my lane.  Help me to focus on what it is that you would have me to do and not be caught up in what I want to do.  I thank you for the gifts and talents that you have placed inside of me.  I decree and declare on this day that I will operate in those gifts and focus on the destiny that you have set before me.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Scripture Reference:

1 Corinthians 12:12 NLT “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.”

Romans 12:3-5 NIV “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”