I have had a lot on my mind lately. My plans. My finances.
My ministry. My health. My beauty. My self-consciousness. My friends. My
schedule. My future. Did you notice a pattern (and an annoying one at that)? In
my thinking, I’m focused on “my” life instead of remembering that life is all
about Jesus. It is so easy for me to take my gaze off of my Savior and put it
onto myself and my problems.
The last couple days, I’ve spent very little time with the
Lord. Instead of setting my eyes on God, I was looking at my own life and failing
to have the peace God promises His children. Weariness had set in to my heart. But
my heart found quietness last night as I sat down with my Bible and journal and
spent time reading Scripture, praying, and writing down the insights God gave
me from His Word. God renewed my soul. Today, I have felt the restfulness of being
in Christ and looking to Him.
Isaiah 26:3-4 is a beautiful passage:
“You keep Him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you, because
He trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
When our eyes are “stayed” or fixed firmly on God, we have
His “perfect peace.” This is the same peace Paul mentions in Philippians 4:6-7.
“Do not be anxious about
anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
There have been so many times in my life when instead of
running straight to God with my worries and plans, I pushed Him aside and chose to stress about it myself, trying to figure everything out on my own. But it doesn't work, because I can't live life alone. I need Jesus. We need Jesus. When we look to Him and read His Word, our
perspective is changed as we recognize His greatness and beauty and that He
deserves and has earned our trust.
As I was reading Scripture last night and seeking God’s renewing
grace, I came across this verse.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the
earth!” ~ Psalm 46:10
Our God is wonderful. As we are still before Him and see His
power and exaltation, the things in our lives grow less important and stressful. He grows
more amazing to us as we know Him more and recognize that we can trust Him and lean on Him.
So, Friends, let’s take our eyes off of ourselves as we walk
this path and set them on Christ. Laying aside everything that distracts us and
setting our attention on Jesus brings such peace. As we learn to be still and
know that our God is God and delight to spend time in His presence, we can walk with quieted hearts. We find rest when we look away from “me” and fix our eyes on
Jesus.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
~ Hebrews 12:1-2
Growing with you,
Christina
Soli Deo Gloria - To God Alone Be the Glory!
