Focus

This is the excerpt from Chapter Four, Focus:

The thing that has our attention has our focus, and what has our focus has the potential to rule us. As Christians, we need to find ways to keep our focus on our Lord. Anything that has our focus tends to have our heart. Let us set our focus on Christ! Nothing can motivate quite like a grateful heart. Jesus deserves our focus. 

We need to resolve to be like King Josiah, who did what was good in the eyes of the Lord. He did not look to the left or the right. Let us not allow the world to blind our gaze with all its distractions; instead, keep our focus on Jesus.

Next, we see where we can go to set our gaze on Him. I can think of no better place than His Word. Let us set our focus there. 

So, I wanted to put the concepts I talked about in the last article about the Believe/Faith/Trust chapter together into some insight I received as I worked on this chapter about Focus. 

In 2 Kings 22:1-2, we find an 8-year-old king, Josiah, who the Word says did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, not turning aside to the right or the left. In Joshua 1:7, most notably known for the statement "Be strong and courageous," it is also a warning to obey commands and not turn from them to the right or the left. 

Psalm 100:4 tells us we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise.

I began to look at this in light of the information in the summary of the last post about Faith/Believe/Trust. 

The summation of a person attending the bible study, Grow Up

We Believe with our heads.

We Trust with our hearts.

Our Faith is a divine gift that allows us to act out in hands of action.

Information below was pulled from the website RDR Bible Study:

• Faith – the act of the will
• Belief – the act of the mind or intellect
• Trust – the language of the heart

So, as I read in the Focus Chapter and did the homework, I could see the connection between this chapter and the conversation we had about Chapter Three in such new ways. I will attempt to share my revelation with you.

Seeming Psalm 100:4, I looked at how I can focus on the Lord and His word. I noted that it tells me to enter His gate; this led me to think about the gate... Jesus is the gate, according to John 10:9. He is the way we enter into the presence of the Lord. The verse tells us we enter this gate with thanksgiving. This led me to evaluate what it means to thank Him. So, I thanked Him for what He had done for me in order for me to be accepted by the Father. I thanked Him for dying for me and then opening up a real relational connection in His resurrection and ascension to heaven that gave me the Holy Spirit.

The second part of the verse tells me to enter into His courts with praise. So, in His courts, I am in His presence. His presence is the Holy Spirit that dwells, abides, and lives in me. I praise Him for who He is.

I was reminded that my faith is in the Character of God. His actions will confuse me at times because His ways are not my ways, so I cannot understand Him fully. When I cannot make sense of the circumstances, I can always make sense of who I know Him to be.

How Inspiring: The Martyr of Perpetua

Yes it has been a long time since I posted a blog.  I have been VERY busy, or should I say the Lord has been busy in me.  Last post was Oct. 2016.  Since then I have been studying the word, preparing for Christmas, ladies retreat at church and leading several small group bible studies.  All the while, being a wife, mom and fitness leader.  Any of you that know me, know that I take my responsibility as a citizen of the United States very seriously.  I believe it is a privilege and GREAT HONOR to be part of this nation's citizenship.  So you may also note that the election of 2016 fell in the middle of this time frame as well.  So yes it has been a while.

Today, I have been working on an online study with Lifeway, Mark, by Lisa Harper.  In her video, she mentions Perpetua, a Christian martyr in the third century.  I was so impressed by her story, I am sharing a link here  Story of Perpetua

While I will not say much more so that I do not take away from that amazing story, I was challenged by this story.

Having walked with the Lord a large portion of my life, I pondered this thought:  Do I live my faith the way she died in her faith?

So today, I am sending that question out to each of you too!  (Keep in mind, this is not for condemnation, but for revelation and inspiration:  Hopefully spurring us on to a more meaningful faith walk with our Lord)

Praying blessing on you today.