If you FOCUS, it WILL come!
FOCUS
· DISCUSSION TOPIC – Whatever YOU FOCUS on E-X-P-A-N-D-S - GOOD or BAD – TRUE or FALSE!
QUESTION: How has FOCUSING on either a problem or a promise impacted your life?
· EXPLAIN – In order to grow in FAITH, YOU must CHOOSE to “REFRAME and REDIRECT YOUR THOUGHTS” by CHALLENGING those thoughts that don’t align with the ‘TRUTH”!
Reframing your mindset is the process by which negative thoughts and limiting belief patterns are immediately challenged, countered (Casted to God), and replaced with thoughts that align with the TRUTH of God’s word, your purpose and desired goals.
When you face challenges, recognize that these are life situations you’re facing so don’t let them define or determine your future.
STORY #1 – If you FOCUS, it WILL come!
Chyle, lemme tell you a story of FOCUS, with two very different outcomes.
First up, the good side. I was over the moon because my grandsons were coming for a week. They were toddlers, out of cribs but still little enough that I worried about them falling off their new twin-size air mattresses. Being the doting GiGi, I set out to find some cartoon covers to keep them snug and safe. I had never seen or heard of what I envisioned, but I was optimistic such a thing existed.
For days, I googled my heart out, but only sleeping bags popped up. If you know me, you know I don’t give up easily. I was laser-focused, even though it was exhausting and frustrating. Juggling caregiving for my elderly parents, I didn’t need extra stress. I’d been studying the idea of “Focusing on the Promise, Not the Problem,” and I decided to cast this care on God! I prayed for wisdom and favor while driving on my way to Walmart for my grocery run. I let go of the all-consuming search and trusted the process that He heard my prayers and will provide my needs.
As soon as I walked into Walmart, what do I see on a clearance table (can I get an amen for clearance 🙌🏾)? A cartoon-fitted sleeping bag sheet that fits on the mattress like a fitted sheet but has a zipped top cover like a sleeping bag! It was perfect! Talk about Focus paying off!
STORY – #2 - If You FOCUS on it, IT WILL Come!
Growing up, I had a paralyzing fear of cockroaches. It was so bad that every spring, I’d hire an exterminator to make my house a roach-free zone. But in New Orleans, where the heat of April to October brings out roaches like it’s a family reunion, avoidance was futile. It was as if I had a "roach radar," sensing their creepy presence from miles away.
My anxiety skyrocketed during roach season. I would scan every corner of my home, yours, the sidewalk, everywhere—especially at night when those critters held their conventions. My vigilance and FOCUS was so intense, I half-expected the roaches to have my photo on their little PowerPoint slides, plotting their next scare tactics.
Sure enough, my hyper-focus often led to encounters with the biggest, boldest roaches. Like that time in Hawaii, walking at night, when a huge one made a beeline for me. My husband went into hero mode while I executed a flawless dodge move.
So yeah, my focus on cockroaches didn’t just keep me on edge—it seemed to invite them in!
LIMITING BELIEF – I got it all FIGURED out
MINDSET – Self-Absorbed – Focusing on the Problem
OUTCOME – In both examples, what I focused on expanded significantly: my fear of roaches grew stronger the more I obsessed over them, while my determined search for the perfect mattress covers once I prayed and trusted Him led to the unexpected discovery of exactly what I needed. Focusing on problems magnified them but focusing on promises brought solutions. It's all about where you direct your energy and attention!
CLOSE – What you focus on will grow, so choose to focus on TRUTH of His promises rather than problems. Be INTENTIONAL by PRAYING, SPEAKING and MEDITATING on God’s PROMISES rather than the problems. Keep the faith, Trust the Process believing that the right solutions will be revealed when you need them.
Love Karen
Your Mindset Makeover Guru
ELEVATING MINDSETS, ONE THOUGHT AT A TIME