Welcome to day 18 of 21 Days of Prayer.
Often when pursuing a goal, vision becomes blurry because other goals enter the picture making it difficult for the image of what we are seeking to come into focus. That doesn't mean one goal is any less important than the other, but trying to do all of them at the same time will overload your creative wiring and thereby cause a break down.
To avoid break downs during your journey, focus on one goal at a time. Too many choices prolongs the process and creates confusion. But fixing your eyes on one thing at a time, improves vision, focus and makes the process of achieving your goals far more efficient.
In 1906, Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist discovered that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by just 20% of the people. This interested him so much that he expanded his research and found this to be true all over Europe. Later, he realized that the 80/20 split went far beyond landowners and human affairs, finding that it even applied to nature - that is, 20% of the pea ponds in his garden produced 80% of the peas he harvested. Other researchers applied the principle to business, personal and professional development, finding that what we now call the Pareto Principle is a rule that helps bring incredible perspective to how best to achieve most goals in life.
Matthew 6:22-23 says, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
When we apply the Pareto Principle to reaching our goals, we will stop multitasking and start "single" tasking. That is, narrow your focus to handling one thing at a time. That's the best approach because when your eye is single, your vision and drive is not spread across several different paths. That's like using up 80% of your energy to only accomplish 20% of your goals. In other words, you'll give up before December gets here. But when your whole body is full of God's light, you see the path more clearly, solve problems faster and use less energy to reach your destination. In that sense, you have driven out the darkness because 80% of your success will be accomplished by 20% of your efforts. Stop frustrating yourself and missing your goals. Develop single focus and watch God's untapped ability rise to the surface.
It's Prayer Time!
Heavenly Father, according to Ephesians 3:20, I devote my dreams and plans to You, the one who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I could even ask or think, according to the power that works in me, I am a winner in 2018!
Teach me to be efficient with my time.
Teach me to be efficient with my energy, and
Teach me to be efficient in prayer.
And if I am trying to do too many things at one time, show me how the light in me is darkness and how my single focus on You, will fill my heart with the pure light of Your presence. Work miracles within me. Turn 20% of my efforts into 80% of my success because I am 100% devoted to Your kingdom agenda. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Inspiring hope and seasoning faith, Pastor Sean