You may have seen a poster with the following question written on it:
“If being a Christian were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Good question. Probably one we should ask ourselves from time to time. Of course, the first step to being a Christian is accepting the gift of salvation. That’s the first step. But Jesus also calls us to follow Him. That means that we are more than a “fan” of Jesus, it means we are sold out to Him and desire to become more and more like Him. Jesus tells us how we can do that when he instructs His disciples and us that following Him involves loving others: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34 ) Jesus is saying that loving one another is not a choice it is a responsibility for those that love Him.
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How’s Your Prayer Life?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing”. So, how are we doing with that? Is prayer a task that we rush through to get on with our day? Or is it something we do only when we need help and need it now?
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Is There A Cure for Worry? |
As sojourners on this earth, most people experience times of worry. We are often faced with problems that cause worry to well up inside of us. However, if worrying becomes a habit, it can have consequences that effect us both spiritually and physically.
I knew a person who fell into the category of a habitual worrier. It was sad to see this person actually seek out things to worry about. If a problem was resolved, one might hear this person comment: "I'll just have to find something else to worry about!"
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"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Isaiah 26:3
It's baseball season and many fans follow their team through the summer months. Sometimes your team wins; sometimes they lose. I have been intrigued watching various professional pitchers--some are more successful than others. However, those who are the most successful seem to focus better than those who lose focus.
Along with focus is an incredible amount of practice. These pitchers don't think about the mechanics as they throw the ball because they have pitched so many times it has become automatic. So, the combination of practice and focus makes a big difference in their success as pitchers but it also seems to give them more confidence on the pitcher's mound. What does pitching have to do with Isaiah 26:3 ? There's a great lesson here . . .
This scripture teaches that those who trust (have confidence in) God have peace. It also teaches that part of acquiring that peace requires our thoughts be "fixed" (focused) on God. Just like the pitcher is successful when he keeps his focus and avoids the distractions of the "audience", our pursuit of "perfect peace" requires our focus be on God, which will help us to avoid the distractions of the world.
Keeping our focus on God also requires repetition, just like the pitcher practices throwing the ball. We need to daily practice focusing on God in our daily life by viewing our experiences through the lens of scripture and by regular prayer.
There are many places that the ball could be thrown just like there are many places our thoughts can wander. However, keeping our focus on God will avoid unnecessary "detours".
We can trust God because He loves us and wants the best for us. If we accept that truth, keeping our focus is much easier. Perfect peace is one of God's wonderful gifts to His children who trust in Him. When we have confidence in God, fear and anxiety can't distract us causing us to lose our focus on Him.
What have we learned? Perfect peace requires trust, focus and repetition. The rewards are well worth the effort!
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We have had a number of our beloved saints go on to their heavenly Home recently. It is always a bittersweet time. We miss them being here with us, but have the assurance we will see them again in eternity. The words of John 14:1-3 bring comfort to those facing death and to those whose loved one has "gone on". Jesus spoke these words to His disciples to give them comfort and hope: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
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