Ephesians 6:12 NLT
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
In my lifetime, this is the most divided society that I have ever experienced.
People are saying that in the US, we may be facing another “civil war.” Quite frankly, when I think about this, it scares me. But I am a Christian, and I have the Word of God to lean on.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
It gets tiring watching the news reports night after night, watching the videos of the protests night after night, every morning seeing that the Covid19 cases are going through the roof and the deaths mounting every day.
Honestly, it is downright depressing.
But by focusing on these news reports, being a Christian, am I doing what I am supposed to do? Is there a better place for me to focus my attention?
You see, for me being a Christian, that depression is a choice I make by focusing on the wrong things.
Colossians 3:1-2 NLT
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
There is a battle going on, and it is a battle for our attention.
For the Christian, this will require an intentional effort on our part. Doing this will require that we sacrifice our thinking for a new way of thinking.
Doing this is repentance. Changing our thoughts for God’s thoughts, when this happens, our hearts start to change, and how we live starts to change.
When we spend time in God’s Word with a willing heart, looking at those words to examine our hearts, we start to find our identity in Jesus Christ.
We start to see who we truly are in the eyes of God. And we can begin to see how God sees the people around us.
We should start to realize that the people around us are not our enemy but that they struggle with the same things that we do, to varying degrees and that our job as followers of Christ is to help them not condemn them.
Luke 19:10 NLT
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
By extension, this has become our mission as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
“But John, what do we do with all of these things that are going on around us?” You may ask.
Start right where you are!
Develop spiritual disciplines that start to change your mind.
1. Get into the Word of God daily!
Joshua 1:8-9 NLT
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reading God’s Word is not a suggestion. This is a command.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, there should be a desire in our hearts to get to know Him, and it is through His Word that this is accomplished.
If that desire is not present in your life, get on your knees, and ask Him to give you that desire to be in His Word.
2. We start to see ourselves as servants for God’s glory.
When we start to see our identity in Jesus Christ, we begin to know that we are servants of God.
John 13:3-5 NLT
Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
This job was the lowliest of jobs from the region that they were in, and here we have the Creator of the universe, doing that job for His disciples.
John 13:12-17 NLT
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
As we move through these challenging times, with Jesus centered in our hearts, we are asked to focus on two things, and blessings come out of our obedience to these things.
Love God and love others. And we do this until He comes to take us home.
Heavenly Father, I pray that You keep my attention on You and Your promise.
I thank You for Your Word, and I pray that You help me to see this through to the end.
I thank You for the people that You place in my life, and I pray that You give me the strength, courage, and desire to be a light shining with You centered in my heart.
I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are pleasing to You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
