Which Direction are you Looking?

“If you look at the world,

you’ll be distressed.

If you look within,

you’ll be depressed.

But if you look at Christ,

You’ll be at rest.”

~Corrie Ten Boom

Comparing this with the last topic of who are you looking to, now let’s see which direction you are looking.

    I am extremely guilty of looking at either my surroundings and the people around me and trying to fit into the situation and please everyone. I suppose all introverts have a problem with this, but it is a natural occurrence. When an introvert crosses path with someone else’s opinion we generally don’t argue or say a word in response. We just sort of back off in a corner somewhere and stew about either how we insulted the person and how bad we feel because of it; or we wish we were quicker on our feet and could have responded with some kind of answer, any kind at all.

   The age old question is, whose opinion is the one we should go with? Should we go with the crowd? Should we go with popular opinion? Should everyone just go with what the media says? If someone says it on TV, or a podcast, or in print – it has to be right – I mean, it says it right there in black and white. They would not be printing or saying it if it wasn’t true, would they? 

   It just gets so confusing, doesn’t it? STOP! That is the time to stop, step back, and take a closer look. If there is confusion who is the author of confusion? For those of you who are not aware, it is Satan himself. I mean, have you looked at the world lately? There certainly is a lot of confusion happening at the moment. Good has been labeled bad, evil has been labeled good. Sin has been labeled acceptable, things that are right and just before God have been labeled bigotry, homophobic. AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!

  What is the answer? When I get this confused, I have to look in another direction altogether. I think of Apostle Peter. We are going along in a confusing situation, but if we keep our eyes on Christ we can get thru it. 

   “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.”

   “And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”

   “But straightway Jesus spake unto them saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

   “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”

   “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”

   “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

   “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

   Matthew 14:25-31

   Did you see it? As soon as Peter took his eyes off of Christ and started looking at his surroundings, at the storm that was going on, he started to sink.

   Keep your eyed on Christ. Keep your heads above water.

AE

and continuing…

Dear Lord,

Keep my mind fixed on Thee.

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

It is so easy to lose sight of the important things in life.  This world is full of distraction.  There are always things that seem of utmost importance.  Most of the time we are being pulled in many directions at once, unable to focus, and always being pulled even further from what is good.   We must stop, refocus, and purpose that our goal will be fulfilled.  Many times I will stop and think through what I am doing in a day.  When my daily goals exceed what is humanly possible, I have to prioritize my day in order of that which is most important.  

This is how we also need to plan our weeks, our months, even our years.   When life is getting in the way of following and serving Christ, then life must change.  Often in the past, I would have a problem of realizing that a week or even at times a month had gone by since I had really studied God’s word.  I was too busy.  I don’t even remember what exactly I was busy doing, but it was taking up all of my time.  I had to change that.  I still have to make schedules, and be in command of my time, or life will take over.

Are we so busy running our children from one activity to the next that we don’t have time to train them in things of the spirit? Deuteronomy 6:7 tells us “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” We can only follow that command if we make sure we aren’t distracted with everything around us.  Are we too busy checking our phones, or doing our own thing to spend time teaching them?  I often am very distracted, and my children act out, and let me know when I haven’t been doing my job.  When your child’s behavior is so obnoxious that you don’t want to be around them, that is your fault Mama and Daddy.  It is your job to teach your children how to behave, how to do right, and how to follow instruction.

Are we so busy that we don’t have time to be in God’s house?  Has it become unimportant to us to be in church?  Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  If we don’t ache with longing to be in the house of God surrounded and encouraged by others who also love him, something is very wrong.   

These are just some of the more obvious ways that we can get distracted in following God.  There are many more.  How is your prayer life, your witness, your attitude?  Are the most important things, the most important things?  Do we wholeheartedly abandon all else, and give him first place?  There is always more we can give, always more we can do, always more we can change.  Never stop chasing Him, never stop seeking him, never stop serving him.  

Let’s give him first place.  

GA