Tag Archives: life trials

Focus Matters

06 Tuesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Faith

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Our focus shapes our reality.  We can choose to focus on God and all He has to offer or this world and all it has to offer.

When Moses got delayed on the mountain talking with God, the Israelites got fearful and said to Aaron, “We don’t know what has happened to this Moses who led us out of Egypt. Make gods who will lead us.” Aaron chose to cave in to the people’s demand, and they created a golden calf as their source of truth, comfort and security. As a result, they circled the mountain for 40 years instead of living the life God intended for them in the promise land.

When we change our source of truth, comfort and security we’re at risk of falling into idolatry. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it’s not. I always heard an idol defined as anything or anyone we love more than God.  Then I heard it defined as anyone or anything we look to for strength or affirmation other than God. That put a whole new spin on the word idol for me.

Perhaps, your idol is your spouse, children, boss, or pastor. Or maybe your golden calf is a hobby like golf, volleyball, gardening or crafting. How about Facebook or over-indulgence of food or drink? What about your bank account? It can even be a ministry you’re passionate about.
I believed God gave me a vision for a particular ministry. Discouragement set in when things didn’t go the way I expected. Ok. Let’s be real. I was offended. I asked God questions about my situation during my quiet time. I was desperate for truth.

But the issue grew bigger and bigger until Jesus became a blur. So the answer I received in prayer was tainted by my feelings. You see, our emotions can be good or bad. They tell us the truth about what we believe.  I Interpreted what I heard from God wrong because I believed a lie.

Then one day, I was in worship and I heard the Lord ask, “Do you love your church more than me?”

Hello? God doesn’t typically ask us a question because he needs the answer. He asks us because he is trying to get our attention. You see, I allowed my source of truth, comfort and security to become my church through the ministry I served in.

God wants our complete attachment to be exclusively to Him.  You may be blessed with a multitude of things, relationships and positions. But the moment any of those have a strong hold on you, His work in your life will be hindered, and you might just find yourself going around the same mountain.

Questions for prayer and reflection:

  1. Think about whatever consumes your thoughts, time and attention. Is there anything you feel you could never give up?

2.  What do you fear?

Begin to let go and surrender it to the Lord in prayer now.

Loving God, you are the sovereign Lord of the universe. I am a creature. You hold all that I love in your hand. My power is limited. Your power is unlimited. All things are possible with you! I give to you _________________.  I release _______________ to your grace and my fear to your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Ho-Ho-Hope!

23 Saturday Dec 2017

Posted by in Faith, Hope, prayer

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“May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 GW

Ho-Ho-Hope

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Glistening white lights fill our homes and line our streets. Parties and shopping fill our calenders. Christmas is the season of hope– the hope of presents under the tree, family coming together, and a prosperous new year.

The excitement and anticipation of children can be seen everywhere. But somewhere there’s a child whose precious momma is deathly ill, an unemployed person struggling to put food on the table and someone contemplating taking their life because they have lost hope.

Hebrews 11 tells us that faith directs our lives. In other words, our faith in directly affects our hope. Faith and belief are interchangeable. Dictionary.com defines belief as confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof. Hmmm, sounds familiar. What or who we put our faith in is where we put our hope.

In Scripture, Jesus shows up time and time again to demonstrate how important our faith is if we expect to see our hope fulfilled. He tells one woman her faith is so great that her hope will be met (Matt. 15:28). In another scenario, a father admits he’s struggling with belief and begs Jesus to help him so he can see his son well again (Mark 9:24). Jesus also commends a woman with chronic bleeding for reaching out and touching His robe (Mark 5:24). Immediately the woman was healed when fear disappeared. At the time, Jesus was traveling to the home of of a synagogue leader with a deathly ill daughter. Messengers arrived on the scene with news of the death of the daughter. They suggested that it was too late and to leave it well enough alone, but Jesus said to the distressed father, “Don’t be afraid! Just believe.”

We’re also told if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we’ll see miracles (Luke 17:6).

Are you facing a bleak situation? How can you heed Jesus’s words?

Consider the following:

  • Seek Him. Find a quiet place free from distraction to pray and seek God. This is the example Jesus set for us (Mark 1:35).
  • Focus on Him. Remember He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). The promises of God in Christ are yes and amen (2 Cor. 1:20). Meditate on His word and character. What you choose to focus on often becomes your reality.
  • Worship Him. He is worthy of all your praise. You are expressing adoration to the one who makes all things possible. Worship is about how you live your life in response to the life he gave for you. Have you accepted His free gift of abundant life now?

If not, you can pray this simple prayer: God, I need you!  I surrender my life to you and invite you to live in and through me by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Your Son’s death and resurrection you made all things new, including me. My hope is in You, alone.

Our hope comes from God when we receive by faith through grace. Joy and peace fill us because we simply believe.

Merry Christmas!