22 - Connecting w/ God
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 22 | LOOK UP!
CONNECTING with GOD
Day 22 | LOOK UP!
LOOK UP!
Hebrews 12:1-3
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (NLT)
As I write this, I can’t help but think of what strange times these are. Unprecedented in my lifetime – and the lives of EVERYONE I’ve talked to ages 21-102. And in strange times – difficult times – we can become weary.
I’m seeing weariness in the faces of my church members, community members and those of friends and family. And the longer these strange times linger, the more likely weariness is to seep in.
For Followers of Jesus, when we get our eyes off Jesus, off of His Word and INSTEAD on the news and events of the day, our spiritual selves can grow weak and we can just get to the point of giving up.
In Mark 4, Jesus taught His followers that when the cares of this world enter your heart and mind, they’ll begin to choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful. And since we know that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom 10:17), if we cease doing that – staying saturated with God’s Word – our faith will start to weaken and wither.
What’s the preventative? LOOK UP!
Get your eyes back on the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, His life, His teachings. Get your eyes OFF things that cause the “cares of this world” to discourage, frighten and depress you. (Turn the news OFF!) Get your eyes ON your Heavenly Source. Stop being fearful that you’re going to lose STUFF, remember, God is your Source, not the world.
If you’ve gotten weary lately, LIFT YOUR EYES. Stop looking DOWN (where the enemy dwells) and start looking UP where God – Father/Son/Spirit – and the angels dwell.
Remember Romans 8:37-39… “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In Christ, you have the victory! Live like it!
Prayer: Lord, sometimes I just forget ALL you have done for me. I am so glad that I’m connected to you and that even in the midst of all that is going on in this world and this time, I can live above the fray by keeping my focus on YOU. Help me Lord, Amen.
Hebrews 12:1-3
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” (NLT)
As I write this, I can’t help but think of what strange times these are. Unprecedented in my lifetime – and the lives of EVERYONE I’ve talked to ages 21-102. And in strange times – difficult times – we can become weary.
I’m seeing weariness in the faces of my church members, community members and those of friends and family. And the longer these strange times linger, the more likely weariness is to seep in.
For Followers of Jesus, when we get our eyes off Jesus, off of His Word and INSTEAD on the news and events of the day, our spiritual selves can grow weak and we can just get to the point of giving up.
In Mark 4, Jesus taught His followers that when the cares of this world enter your heart and mind, they’ll begin to choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful. And since we know that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom 10:17), if we cease doing that – staying saturated with God’s Word – our faith will start to weaken and wither.
What’s the preventative? LOOK UP!
Get your eyes back on the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word, His life, His teachings. Get your eyes OFF things that cause the “cares of this world” to discourage, frighten and depress you. (Turn the news OFF!) Get your eyes ON your Heavenly Source. Stop being fearful that you’re going to lose STUFF, remember, God is your Source, not the world.
If you’ve gotten weary lately, LIFT YOUR EYES. Stop looking DOWN (where the enemy dwells) and start looking UP where God – Father/Son/Spirit – and the angels dwell.
Remember Romans 8:37-39… “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In Christ, you have the victory! Live like it!
Prayer: Lord, sometimes I just forget ALL you have done for me. I am so glad that I’m connected to you and that even in the midst of all that is going on in this world and this time, I can live above the fray by keeping my focus on YOU. Help me Lord, Amen.
Posted in Connecting w/ God
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