2009 - A Year of Focus

 

Friend, Happy New Year!! We believe that you and your household are well and have stepped into this year with great expectations at what God has in store for you. My wife and I are thankful to God for allowing us to step into 2009, A Year of Focus.

 

In 1 Samuel 30:8 the Bible says, “And David enquired at the LORD, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.” What a glorious assurance!

 

In the above Bible reference, David was running away from King Saul and was hiding among the Philistines.  David and his men had volunteered to go to war with the Philistines but their offer to help was rejected and they had to return to their camp. Upon their return, the Bible says that they found their wives, children and property taken. The Bible records in 1 Samuel 30:4, “Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” The Bible further records that the people even contemplated stoning David but that he encouraged himself in the Lord. It is after all this that we read verse 8 of chapter 30.

As I read this scriptures, several lessons caught my eye and I would like to share them with you as we start this 2009 which is A Year of Focus.

 

First, David was a Great warrior – in fact songs had been composed praising him for killing tens of thousands. He killed Goliath, He killed a lion and even killed a deer but never relied on his previous experience as he encountered each of the situations mentioned above. Friend, this 2009, do not rely on your experience or past knowledge, instead, focus on God. The Bible says that each time, David enquired of the Lord before he moved. May God grant us the presence of mind to get counsel from HIM for every situation we encounter this year in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. May our focus be to do HIS WILL and to be in HIS WILL concerning every situation in Jesus Precious Name, Amen. Jesus says in John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Friend, purpose in your heart, mind and soul that this year will be to you A Year of Focus and that you will focus on enquiring and obeying the will of Our Father who art in heaven.

 

Secondly, David not only enquired whether he should pursue the troops but also whether he should overtake them. In this year of Focus, my prayer is that we will not only ask God’s will for lives in every situation but that we will ask Him for the exact strategy to accomplish His will. Friend, I pray that we will ask God for divine strategies for ministry, divine strategies for our careers, divine strategies for our families and even for our nations. In prayer, in intercession, may we inquire of Him how we should pray, how we should fast, how we should conduct Bible Studies etc. In this Year of Focus, one direction, one instruction, one strategy from God will save us years of labor. David asked for the strategy. God loves to give us strategies. It was God who gave Moses the strategies on how to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt; He gave Gideon a strategy to eliminate those that were fearful among the company and gave Joshua the war strategies to capture Jericho. May God give you victorious strategies this year in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. May this Year of Focus bear fruit in your life in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. Friend, do not settle for the ordinary, God has extraordinary strategies for your success in every area of your life. Let your heart’s cry be “God, help me to Focus on Your wisdom, your counsel and your direction in Jesus Faithful Name, Amen.”

 

Thirdly, David did not rely on his resources but looked to God. David had a team that comprised of the best warriors. Those he commanded were known as Mighty men that could kill thousands single-handedly but still he did not focus on the strength of his resources but on the one who is the ultimate resource. David heeded to the Word of God not to trust in horses and in chariots but to trust in the Name of the Living God. This 2009, Friend, let your focus be God and God alone. The strength of Man will fail, the resources that you have can fail you BUT HE, The Almighty, never fails!!! He is the Almighty, He is greater than the greatest, He is stronger than the strongest, He is the All-sufficient, He is the Omnipotent One, the Omnipresent One - In this Year of Focus, purpose to Focus on Him and Him alone.

 

Lastly, God answered David. If David had been impatient, he would have missed the response of God. I pray that this year of Focus, God will speak clearly to each one of us and that we shall be patient to hear and obey Him. Abraham heard and obeyed Him even when the initial order was ”to sacrifice his son”, Lot obeyed when the order was “to get out of Sodom and Gomorrah”. May God’s voice be audible to you. Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice and a stranger they will not follow”. This year, may your spiritual ears be sharp, attentive and receptive to God’s voice in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen. In this Year of Focus may you never loose focus in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

God bless you and keep you and grant you FOCUS this year in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

 

Again, Happy New Year!!!..

 

Bro. Chester.