By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Where’s Our Focus?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

The place we keep our eyes is what has our attention. I’m as guilty as the next person of reading too much social media, getting distracted by a book series, letting my irritation grow until it bursts. These are actual examples of the things I fight.

The question is, what do we do next when we identify we’ve gotten caught up in the world, again?

^“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…Only let us hold true to what we have attained… But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:14-21 English Standard Version

We press on. We continue to connect with Christ who in turn connects with us. It’s a relationship that ebbs and flows and can be lost if we let it.

I’m encountering more and more Christians who have their eyes on the mess that is the world. But Jesus says to have PEACE even if there are hard things around us and affecting us.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 English Standard Version

I choose Peace. This is not easy and it takes practice. I still find myself caught up in the yuck of the world. For example, I felt a wall between God and I the other day. At this point I have a choice, I can decide to keep the wall up or push through. From experience, I am the one who puts up the wall and I am the one who can remove it. So, I worshipped until it came down.

These aren’t easy times, but we are alive at this time in this place for a purpose and a reason. It’s our job to continue to keep the connection with God alive, He never leaves us. Our participation is an absolute necessity in our spiritual walk. Jesus, I pray you have mercy on us and help us to keep our eyes on you. Amen!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado