The right focus

Tami, For me to keep on track it helps me to go back to to Psa 119:32. Set my heart free (JOY) joy in the security of knowing the boundaries God provides in His word. Those boundaries are like a path for us to follow and to step off that path we stumble into the unkown, outside of the careful direction of a caring God who wishes to place each footfall on lifes pathway.

Bible reading and prayer are how I help ensure I am focusing on God rather than myself. (Although many times I fail.)

That's a tough one! We all fall short in the areas of self and selfish desires, but one thing I find helps is to start the day in the Word and prayer. For me, it just creates a certain mindset that gets my thoughts in line with the Lord. I really liked today's passage because in a sense, that's how I pray to Him before I read His Word. I pray that my mind be focused throughout my day and that His image be reflected through my words, actions and thoughts. It is so powerful to know that we can count on His Word being an absolute constant in our lives, when everything else in this world shifts and changes and leaves us empty. It just kept assuring us that His commandments really give us freedom, comfort and hope; not restrictions as some people believe.

I think David must have struggled with the same problem, as he writes in vs 36 "Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain" We need hearts that "hunger and thirst" after God's Word!

These verses stood out for me as well. I think the best way to receive freedom from our selfish wants is by giving. Giving God our time through prayer and Bible study, increase tithing, and of course, giving to those in need. I'm guilty of doing some 'retail therapy' when I feel strained by whatever situation in my life at the time but this verse has opened my eyes that I shouldn't be wasting my limited resources on trivial things but to focus on the needs of others by giving/sharing my time and resources... By doing this, I am wisely using what God has blessed me with instead of wasting them on material pursuits that in the end, really don't matter anyhow.

We do fall short at times when it comes to selfish desires but the good thing is that we recognie it and so we ask God to forgive us and seek His help in this area. To focus on God, we must start with Him in our hearts as soon as we rise up. Giving Him thanks and reading His Word and ask Him to guide and lead us through the day. Before we go to bed, thank Him for the day and for all the wonderful blessings He so freely bestowed upon us. Pray for others because we are seeing nonchalant behaviour in people. It is as if we do not care anymore and that we have given up on God. Let us not give up on our Lord, who should, but has not given up on us because of His unconditional love. Let us continue to tell of His excellent greatness! Glory to God in the Highest.

In my journey to the cross I find that this whole mindset must be developed and that takes time and patience. I believed it was Paul who said, "I have to learn to be holy," I can relate to that. I am a sinner first, I come to God as I am--a sinner, HE has to show me HOW to live holy. I feel that there is more to this walk than just accepting Jesus as my personal saviour. I can accept for days, but if my inner man is still evil what good is it? I have to make a conscious decision to meditate on the word of God at first, (this is the starting point), then as growth starts to happen everything will come naturally. In the book of Matthew, Jesus instructs us to seek the kingom of heaven and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you, well that to me means just seek the kingdom and DO NOT focus on the way it should look and all of the outside stuff because it will be added to you, it will evolve, YOUR SPIRIT WILL EVOLVE AND SHED THOSE THINGS NOT OF OUR FATHER GOD. That takes process and patience. I have learned to be patient with myself and do the best I can and not get caught up in "failing." We must PRESS towards the mark, that to me, means to push my selfish desires and thoughts out and replace the empty space with scripture application. That way, when I find that I am drifting away from the presence of God I can combat it with the word of God the TRUTH.

The only way I can ensure this is to BE ALERT AND STAY AWAKE TO MY INNER MAN.

For me, gratefulness is key. Everything we have and are belongs to God. I'm learning through financial hardships to be grateful. God is supplying all our needs. He's been right in our faces with His faithfulness and care. I can't help but focus on Him.

I think for the focus to stay on God and off us, we have to put Him first and ourselves second. Sometimes, it is easier said than done. We love the Lord! We don't steal, kill or destroy, but we fail to give God ALL of us. To me it starts with prayer in the morning and prayer in the evening. I try to read His word daily. But instead of reading, my focus is turning to the study of His word. He has to be the reason for us. Maybe if we started a personal diary and listed when we got off focus, we could do a better job identifying where we lost it and work harder at those times to keep our focus on God.

To keep on my faith journey I need daily devotion, morn and evening to keep me on the narrow path. I'm finding now that it carries me through out the day (the in-between studies). Daily reading of Scripture and journaling is also a must through out the week. Of course on Sundays, attending church is always a hopeful but doesn't always occur.