Where is your Focus?
Are you looking at your relationship with God,
and the future He has in store for you?
The Key to having Peace and Joy
is how you answer that question.
What you believe to be true,
and what you think about,
are going to determine your state of mind.
If you have faith in the fact
that you are a beloved child of God,
and that He has adopted you
into His family,
that should push out the fear
or the anxious thoughts
that pop into our mind.
It is that
"simple",
but it is not
"easy".
It requires effort on your part
to train your mind
to see things from an eternal perspective.
The world is going to try to fill your mind
with fear and hopelessness.
And a never ending stream of "distractions"
to entice you into squandering your time and talents.
So, you have to continually
and consciously
be refocusing your heart and mind
on the things of God.
Looking toward the eternal things,
instead of the temporary things
of this present time
( 2 Corinthians 4:18 and Colossians 3:2 ).
And you do this by reading
( and memorizing )
the truth you find in the Bible.
Let the word dwell in your richly
( Colossians 3:16 )
Realizing that the things written in earlier times
were for our instruction
to give us hope
( Romans 15:4 )
By talking to God throughout the day
constantly
( Roman 12:12 )
or without ceasing
( 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ).
So again --
quite "simple",
but not something that comes "easy"
to most of us.
But since it is what is best for you,
and what God would want for you,
He is already working for and in you.
( Philippians 2:13 )
He expects you to be asking Him for assistance
( Philippians 4:6 )
drawing near to Him
( James 4:8 )
realizing you are just a "branch" that needs the "vine"
to be able to produce any good fruit
( John 15:5 )
There are a lot of verses I'm going to share with you
that will help you have a better mindset.
I hope and pray that you have time
in your hectic schedule to consider them.
The more you are able to focus
on the truths found in God's word,
the happier your life here on earth will be.
Let's start with
Romans chapter 12 verses 1 and 2
we read
I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
In Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 through 4
we read
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth.
3 For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ
who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory.
A little further along in verse 16
we get some advice from the apostle Paul
where he says
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And two more passages
on the subject of God's Word
needing to be your focus
or what you "feed" your mind with
Referencing 1 Peter 2:2
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby,
And Romans 15:4
For whatever things were written before
were written for our learning,
that we through the patience
and comfort of the Scriptures
might have hope.
Now I'd like to share some scriptures that tell us
more about what we are to be looking forward to,
once this life is over.
These would be things that have eternal value,
as opposed to the temporary or short term value
of most of the things
we see in the world.
In 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verses 16 through 18,
we read
16 Therefore we do not lose heart.
Even though our outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Even though our outward man is perishing,
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
is working for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary,
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Referencing the passage found in
2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 1 - 9
Paul points out
we have a building from God,
a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
knowing that while we are at home in the body
we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident,
yes, well pleased
rather to be absent from the body
and to be present with the Lord.
And beyond the promises of a new body,
we have promises of a new country
and a new heavenly city.
And this is where our focus is to be.
Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 6 verses 19 - 21
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy
and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys
and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is,
there your heart
will be also.
In Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 14,
we read
For here we do not have a lasting city,
but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 22
we read
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
Instead of dreaming about your next vacation destination,
I would encourage you to be dreaming
about what God has in store for us.
We are strangers and aliens
in this current world system.
We are no longer part of this world,
but instead have a new citizenship
in the heavens.
In Philippians chapter 3 and verses 20 and 21
we read
For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which also
we eagerly wait for a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ;
21 who will transform the body of our humble state
into conformity with the body of His glory,
by the exertion of the power that He has
even to subject all things to Himself.
Okay, you might be thinking,
this is all well and good,
but I still have anxiety
and worries that plague my mind.
And you would ask,
What are we to do to find peace of mind
while still in this world?
There are plenty of scriptures that can help you with that,
if you take them to heart
And
put them into practice on a daily basis.
Let's start with somethings Jesus told us,
In Matthew chapter 6: verses 25 - 34
With Key points being
Don't be anxious about food, drink or clothes,
And in ( verse 32 and 33 of chapter 6 ),
He says,
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things;
for your heavenly Father knows
that you need all these things.
33 But seek first His kingdom
and His righteousness,
and all these things
will be added to you.
And in verse 34
Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow,
but instead to focus only on TODAY.
Saying,
"So do not worry about tomorrow;
for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
And we are to take all our
cares and worries to God.
In 1 Peter 5:7
we read,
casting all your anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you.
And Paul goes into more detail
in Philippians chapter 4
verses 4 - 13
With highlights being,
Instead of being anxious -
to use prayer, supplication
with thanksgiving
to make your request to God.
Also Paul shares a list of positive things
we should be thinking about in Verse 8.
He tells us he has learned to be content,
and that he can do all things
because his source of strength is the Lord.
You need to remember
WHO
YOU
ARE
John 1:12
says if you have believed
you are born again
as a child of God
Romans 8:15
says we have been adopted as sons,
and we can call out to God
as Abba ( Daddy ) and Father.
John 6:40
Jesus says the one who
"believes in Him, may have eternal life:
and I Myself will raise him up
on the last day"
Colossians 1:12 -14
We Read
giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified us to share in the inheritance
of the saints in Light.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,
and transferred us to the kingdom
of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins."
We could go on and on,
but I just want to give you two more passages
to think about.
Romans chapter 8 verses 24 and 25
we read
For in hope we have been saved,
but hope that is seen
is not hope;
for who hopes
for what he already sees?
25 But if we hope
for what we do not see,
with perseverance
we wait eagerly for it.
And closing with
Ephesians chapter 3 verses 20 and 21
we read
Now to Him who is able to do
far more abundantly
beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power
that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
to all generations
forever and ever.
Amen.
--
Saved by Grace,
Andrew Cross
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
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