At
Salvation, God raised us with Christ from death to life. Now, He calls us to
focus our affections on spiritual issues, because we are sitting with Christ at
His right hand (Ephesians 2:6).
When
we realize that we are hidden with Christ in God, and that He is our whole
life, we set our heart on what really matters, instead of on the peripheral aspects
of life (Colossians 3:3-4).
Focusing
on a heavenly mindset in this world full of distractions, hardships and
hang-ups is difficult at first. Our obligations and social pressures
continually nag at us to focus our attention on them. We do not neglect these
issues, but we simplify and focus on God's will.
We
simplify by cutting out of our schedule every activity, in which God did not,
and is not, or is no longer calling us to take part. We change our focus by
seeking God's Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), even in our secular vocation, as we
work-at-home, and in our daily family schedules.
God
has a direction that He pre-ordained for us to follow in every area of our life
(Ephesians 2:10). At work or at home, we step aside and allow Christ in us to accomplish
our tasks as God's Spirit directs our steps (Galatians 2:20; Proverbs 3:5-6).
We
can make lists to remind us what needs to be done, but we do them in God's
order, as His Spirit prompts us (Matthew 6:9-10). This takes practice, but our
day progresses much more smoothly when we do.
We
effortlessly flow from one aspect of our duties to the next. God's Kingdom is
our focus and everything we do moves us towards that end (Matthew 11:12).
Satan
uselessly attempts to side-track us, but as we focus on, and trust in God
alone, He keeps us in His perfect peace through any mishap or catastrophe
(Isaiah 26:3). If we feel our soul fill with worry or stress, we know that we
need to correct our focus.
We
live each day according to Paul's advice to think about, and focus on the
positive aspects of life (even
us Melancholies) (Philippians 4:8-9) This
guarantees that we will walk in the Spirit's presence in our life (Romans 8:5-6).
Prayer:
Father
God, in our humanity, we are tempted to come to You to grant our wishes and to supply
our perceived needs (James 4:3). You do want to help us as our loving Heavenly
Father, but only in those areas to which You are calling us to do. Remind us
that the prayer that You love to answer is: "Lord, Your will be
done." (Luke 22:42)
Teach
us to adopt Your desires as our driving force. When we do this, You
automatically meet all of our human needs in Your timing and way (Matthew
6:9-10, 33). You give us a life of peace and joy regardless of our
circumstances (Romans 8:6). As we set our heart and mind on infinite aspects,
and hope even in what we do not see, You make all things beautiful in Your time
(Colossians 3:1).
Thought
for the Day:
When
we finally realize that our true self is no longer bound up in this earthly
realm, and that we are now seated with Christ in Heavenly places, the mundane
issues of life fade away.
- Ephesians 2:6
