Today warped up the Unstuck series we have been in @ church.
Talk about one that really hits home. I will admit I had a hard time focusing in @ the beginning, I brought everything in w/ me, when I should have left a few - all - thoughts @ the door when I took my seat. I'm really good at making something out of nothing - ask my husband - and I'm also really good at holding a grudge over silly, almost made up, things. I'm great at not liking someone for the sole reason of just not liking them, not for anything that has happened, or that was done to me. I can mule over and over in my mind things that really get under my skin, and create a whole scenario out of nothing - I know, its a gift.
As I was taking my seat I was going over something - that I'm sure I had made up - in my mind which caused me to not give 100% of my attention to what Mark was talking about. I even sat w/ a friend near the front so I wouldn't have any distractions in front of me! Go figure my mind would keep me entertained as I tried ever so hard to listen and apply what was being said.
At last! On the 3rd point I was able to grab hold of my imagination and remind it, that as much as I really enjoy self loathing, it would have to wait till later so I could try and get something out of the message.
What was the 3rd point - of 5 points - in the message you ask?
Refocus my mind on the hope of Heaven
Really. I'm not kidding! Oh - did I mention that this message was on getting unstuck in my future? Mark opened up w/ 4 things that keep us stuck in regaurds to our future.
1. Worry
2. Assumptions
3. Planning w/o Prayer
4. Procrastinating
Check, check, and check to all four things in my life when it comes to my future, or any area in life.
Back to refocusing my mind on the hope of heaven - the verses he used for this point was -
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth
Colossians 3:2
Hummm . . . pause. If there were a ton of bricks that could have fallen on me right then and there I'm sure they did! Hello! This is an every day battle for me! I'm pretty sure that my thoughts of heaven are far and few between. To add to this great verse - which will be going up all over my apt for me to be reminded of! - he also use this great one -
Fix your thoughts on what is True, and Honorable, and Right, and Pure, and Lovely, and Admirable. Think about things that are Excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
The last thing that stuck out to me was
'The size of my God determines the size of my future'
meaning that if I look to Him for guidance and direction, and replace my thoughts w/ His thoughts my future - my life and every other area in it - will go just the way its suppose to. I won't have to worry about any of it. I won't have to keep thinking weather or not I did it right. Whatever 'it' is.
When we allow God to work in us the things we want/think start to change, and we can begin to want/see life, people, our surroundings, in a whole new light. We can see others the way that He sees them - note to self! - we can care about and take action in areas that He sees need to be reached - missions, local and globally. There's an amazing life out there to be had in Christ, when we let Him really, I mean really, take over our life.
Am I ready for that? Am I really ready to see others the way He does? Meaning letting go of my selfish immaturity and grudges. Meaning trading in watching the shows I've got on the DVR'd and opening up the bible instead. Meaning not worrying about what others think of me, and trying so hard to fit in w/ the other 'cool' moms at the park, but instead welcoming any friendships that come along. . . .
How are your thoughts aligning w/ His?
If you'd like to hear this message, or any of the others in this series you can check out Journeymetro.com
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