Day 56- Focus, Clarity & Purpose
📖Daily Reading
1 Kings 2-6
🎥 Video
Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.
📝 Reflection
1 Kings 3: 9
“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
So we probably have all heard before about King Solomon’s wisdom, even if you are not a believer nor have read the Bible. We can see from the scripture above why we know this about him. God came to him and asked him what he wanted and then even said, ‘I will give you whatever you ask for’. Most would probably ask for wealth, health, long life, safety and provision for our families etc.. But Solomon was different, he asked for wisdom and to help him be a good steward of the purpose God gave him to govern God’s people. Even in his request he showed wisdom, focus, clarity and understanding of his purpose and mission. He even says in his request - so that I can govern ‘your’ people well. He not only understood his purpose but it was a higher purpose which provided extra clarity and focus, which he knew would require wisdom to do well.
I think this verse really speaks for itself. I am not sure how much I can add, but I will do my best. In the baton being passed from David to Solomon, Solomon demonstrated an understanding and obedience and surrender to what the calling that was placed on his life and the responsibility to fulfill the scriptures and God’s promises. He knew just like his father, David, maybe even more so what ‘running this race’ was going to require. He needed clarity, focus and a higher purpose - he needed wisdom and he was wise beyond his years to understand that he even needed it. I wonder if he also understood that if he could stay focused, clear, on purpose and keep things in the ‘right’ order if everything would also take care of itself, so to speak. It seems like this is one of the lessons for us.
Do we focus on getting some of the ‘spoils’ of right living, without wanting to do the work it takes to get it? If we could have the wisdom to see that if we focus on ‘right’ living that we may naturally get some of the things we are wanting as a by product? It would have been the easy thing for Solomon to take this opportunity, this golden ticket and just ask for the results for himself, a short cut to fame, fortune etc… Instead he was focused, clear and purpose driven on being God’s servant above everything else.
We see in verses 3:10-11 that God is so impressed that he not only grants Solomon wisdom but he also blesses him with what he didn’t ask for; riches, fame and a long life. Now, this is not to be understood that God is a genie in a bottle. He can see straight through to the heart. Even if you have a pure heart, it doesn’t mean you will be blessed with similar outcomes as Solomon was. I think it does mean that you will have a renewed mind and spirit and you can experience the ‘peace that surpasses all understanding’ even when from human perspective things are not going well.
How can you use Solomon’s example to experience more focus, clarity and a higher purpose in your life?
For years I did what God seems to expect from us in prayer, I asked for the results or for a way to have my cake and eat it too! But I knew for me that having 2-3 drinks per day, was the thing that was standing in my way. Similarly Solomon knew that wisdom was the thing that he needed or would make it easier to do the other things he needed to do. Chalene Johnson calls this identifying your push goal. It is not always the thing you want to do, but it is the thing you know you need to do that would make the other things easier. The thing that pushes the lead domino over and then helps all the other dominos just fall as a consequence. I love this analogy.
I know for me personally, when I surrendered to the work that it was going to take to change my relationship with myself and the stresses of life, by facing and changing my coping strategies and bad habits one at a time, and finally learn how to deal with life on life’s terms, that was the beginning of a new life driven by focus, clarity and a higher purpose. God has blessed me beyond what I knew what I could even ask for or imagine. I am so humbled by His grace and mercy to be renewed. I often, find myself thinking, ‘I gave up one thing and God gave me the world in return!’ What can be possible for you if you give up your ‘one thing’? Maybe focus, clarity and purpose? Are you curious?
✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt
How can you use Solomon’s example to experience more focus, clarity and a higher purpose in your life?
What can be possible for you if you give up your ‘one thing’? Maybe focus, clarity and purpose? Are you curious?
📖Tomorrows Reading
1 Kings 7-9
Coaching Opportunity
Let's make 2023 the year of YOU by laying a solid foundational mind set! The world needs what only you have to offer! Give yourself the best gift ever, the best version of you is ready to rise & shine!
Book your free📞Wake Up Call today to learn if this is what you have been waiting for!
If you have stuck with me this far, then you are not reading this by accident, I believe God has a plan for you and is calling you forward!😉🤩
CONNECT WITH ME
Subscribe to Rise & Shine✨Together Daily Encouragement
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felecia.b.holmes (personal)
Rise & Shine Together Private Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093183278239989
You Tube: Rise & Shine Playlist
|