A little late on posting, but here it is :)
December 31, 2012 …. Prelude to the New Year
God is speaking to me about where my focus is. At church on Sunday the talk was on having great expectations on what God can do. I have always had a way of looking for the next obstacle I need to overcome. This year, with His guidance, I will look forward to seeing the next wonder He will show me. My wheels are always turning about what I need to do next. This year I will choose to enjoy the moment. I have often looked back on what I could have done differently or where I could improve. This year I will reflect and remember on the joy, the positive, the growth and the love. My thinking needs a different perspective, His perspective.
The talk began with “Believing is Seeing.” Did you catch that? I did not even hear it correctly because I have always heard the opposite, that ‘seeing is believing.’ But that is so profound, BELIEVING IS SEEING. What we believe in our hearts and minds is what our reality becomes. Believing gives us the ability to see God. I personally know the truth in this … the more I have believed and put my faith in a living God, the more I have seen His awesome works all around me. There are many things I would not have seen if I had not first believed. We cannot encounter God unless we expect Him to act. We will encounter God when we look forward with great expectations of what He can do.
Another point that struck me is to pursue what is really important. So often we say things like, “let’s get this stuff done so that we can….” Or maybe it is something like, “I will get to that after I just do this…” I need to make the important stuff a priority. For me I have long struggled with paying off debt and using our finances to glorify God who provides for us so abundantly. We get side-tracked by things we want and stuff we ‘need’. I have trouble sticking to a budget and end up with too many excuses why a family of six causes that. The truth is we will be able to do so much more if we first pay off our debt. God has shown us the importance of this and we need to finally make it a priority.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of pearls, who on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” ~Matthew 13:44-46, ESV
In the first example, the treasure was found by chance, its value was seen, and it became a priority. He could have been so caught up in his own thoughts that he missed the evidence around him. In the second example the pearl was being sought out, but how often are we so used to going through the motions (in this case his constant looking at different pearls) that we miss something that is of value. So often we can become so focused on routine, that we miss something of great value. If our focus is on pursuing what is important, we are sure to see the little gems along the way.
My attitude adjustment has to begin with my focus of thinking. I have always heard to focus on the positive, and not surprisingly, there are many scriptures that give that same message. I tend to over-react and panic. When I am reacting to a situation I am not living expectantly of seeing His work. When I carry burdens I am not living expectantly of seeing His work.
I need to slow down, to give time to “stop, look and listen.” That is to stop from routine, look to His word, and listen for His guidance. I need to “stop, breathe, and think.” When I hear or see something that I may not agree with, I need to pause, breathe in His Spirit, and think about my choice. If I give Him time my life will not be a reaction, but a response. Through Him and changing my focus, my life will begin to show less bitterness and more of His abounding grace.
