“If you’re focused on what you shouldn’t do, you probably won’t do what you should.”

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2015-10-06) from his book, If: Trading Your If Only Regrets for God's What If Possibilities (Kindle Location 878). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I really don’t believe that is God’s way with us. O yes, there are things he doesn’t want us to do that will hold us back in our spiritual formation but the truth is, he created us to do something.

Mark says, “Goodness is not the absence of badness. After all, you can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Would you rather be right or righteous? They are not one and the same. Righteousness isn’t just being right; it’s doing something right. It’s not just breaking even; it’s going all in and all out for Christ.”

He then says, “Too many Christ followers are playing not to lose, and that’s what results in if only regrets. It’s like a prevent defense in football, which in my opinion, doesn’t prevent anything except a touchdown by the other team. We’re called to advance the kingdom, not hold the fort.”

Mark finished this section by saying, “We’re called to play offense. You need a vision that is bigger than the temptations you face. You need a yes that is bigger and better than your no. The most effective way to overcome if only regrets is going after what if dreams that simply overwhelm them.”

Let’s find and do what we were created to do. God created us with a purpose in mind. Let’s each one put our focus on our purpose. My purpose is not to keep from doing something but it is to do something.

So what is your focus?

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