Colossians 3:1-3

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.

New Living Translation 

If you spend all your time thinking about things in this life, you will soon be depressed.  The weight of family schedules, work demands, strained relationships, financial burdens, and even natural disasters will soon overwhelm you.

There is something better to think about -  the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power.  

This world and its concerns are temporary.  Soon they will be gone.  This life seems like the only reality that exists, but there is something much more real, much more permanent.

So, let Heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.

Philippians 3:12-14

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

New Living Translation

I wish I were perfect.  I'm not.  I do foolish things, usually by mistake, despite my best intentions.  And I'm not very kind to myself.  Nobody has to be critical of me...I do it better all by myself!  

It would be wise for me to learn from what Paul is saying.  Whether it is accidental failures or blatant sin, the things in my past I can't change.  I am not helping myself by beating myself up for it.  In fact, doing so only keeps me bound to shame, increasing the chances of my failing again.

It is far better to really believe what scripture says about forgiveness.  God blots out the stain of our sin.  He separates us as far from our guilt as east is from west.  Jesus paid for all my sins, completely.  I don't have to hang on to them.

I need to let go, make myself stop thinking about them, and move on in grace.  Thank You God, for Your amazing grace!

Luke 17:5-6

5 One day the apostles said to the Lord, “We need more faith; tell us how to get it.”

6 “Even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed,” the Lord answered, “you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May God uproot you and throw you into the sea,’ and it would obey you!

New Living Translation

I can relate to the disciples' dilemma.  I need more faith too.  How do I get it? 

Jesus didn't give them instructions on where to find, or purchase, more faith.  Instead he told them that if they had just a little faith, great things could happen.

For a long time, I was frustrated by that answer.  “Jesus, You didn't answer the question!  I know if I have that faith, I can move trees, or even mountains, as You said.  But where do I get that faith?

But Jesus did answer the question, I just missed it.  I was looking for where to get newer, stronger faith.  Jesus was saying, You already have what you need.  Use it!  When you do, you will see miracles, and your faith will grow stronger.

This is a challenge to me, because sometimes my faith seems so defective, I'm pretty sure it couldn't rescue me from a cellophane wrapper blowing in the wind, much less move a mountain!  But the first step in exercising faith, is trusting that if Jesus says I have what I need already, then I need to actually believe that, and use it.

Lord, I need faith today - this very minute!  Help me to use what You have already given, and help it to grow stronger.

Philippians 2:12-13

12 Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

New Living Translation

We are told to be careful to put into action God's saving work, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  We are to put our all into obeying God.  But look at what comes after that:  FOR God is working in you....

God's work is the reason we should obey.  We should obey because we can, because He makes it possible.  He is the source of our strength.  The desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him doesn't come from ourselves.  It comes from Him.  And in order to receive what we need, we have to be focused on Him

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

New Living Translation

When our circumstances are overwhelming to us, it seems perfectly natural to let them absorb all our time and energy.  The problems are so big, nothing else seems to matter.

But in this passage, Paul is reminding us that no matter how intense our struggles are now, they are nothing compared to what we will have someday. 

Compared to the glory of Heaven, all the misery of this world is quite small.   Compared to eternity, even 100 years of intense suffering is a short time.

And enduring all of this here, now, with faith, will bring us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever.

Write the passage down somewhere, and keep it where you can see it.  The next time you can only see your circumstances, read this, and remember that there is something better to look at, if you are willing.

Hebrews 12:1-4

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven. 3 Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

New Living Translation

 

There are two important truths in this passage that can help us when we feel weak, and our faith is anemic.

First, we are not alone.  Many have run this race before us, and there are many Christians around us, cheering us on.  If you are feeling discouraged, there is someone you can go to for encouragement, if you are willing to take the risk.

Second, we are able to endure all we have to suffer in this life not because we have so much strength in ourselves.  We do it instead by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. 

He endured so much, for our sake.  No matter how much you are suffering, it is nothing compared to the torture He endured.  He understands your struggles, and He offers hope and help. 

But that hope and help is not an object, something He hands over to us and we use.  Instead, He is our hope and our help.  As long as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we can do anything He asks.  If we take our eyes of Him, we sink, just like Peter did when he was walking on the water, and looked at the waves instead of at Jesus.

It isn't always easy to keep our focus, but it is vital!

Psalm 32:10-11

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.

11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

New Living Translation

 

I don't know about you, but I NEED unfailing love.  I've been hurt over and over by love that is conditional.  When I need love and hope most, it is pulled away from me because I didn't measure up.

God's love is different.  It is a result of His nature, not my behavior.  It will never fail me, it will never be pulled from me because I wasn't good enough.

We trust Him not as a condition to having this love, we trust Him as a result.  When we do that, His love surrounds us, helping us to feel emotionally safe and comforted.  The love is there whether we trust Him or not, but it can only have the effect intended if we will trust it enough to immerse ourselves in it.

Psalm 32:8-9

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

New Living Translation

 

Having an attitude of humility, a lifestyle of repentance, also means that we are willing to let God lead and direct our lives.  Instead of being stubborn and doing what we want, we will seek God's will.  

I so often do what I want, what I think is best, what I WANT to be right.  I'm learning to let God lead, but it isn't always easy.  So often I'm blinded by my own perceptions.  Oh Lord, please help me to tell the difference between my ideas and Yours!  And then, help me to be willing to follow Your way instead of my own, even if at first I don't want to.

 

Psalm 32:6-7

6 Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

New Living Translation

 

The godly need to confess their rebellion?  That doesn't seem to make sense!  Aren't the godly the ones that are always good, that don't rebel? 

Even the godly are sinners.  When God looks in our hearts, He judges our motives, attitudes, and our actions, and all of us fall short of the standard of absolute purity.  We may be set free of intentional sin, but none of us will ever reach absolute perfection.

The most godly people I know are those that recognize that they are saved, but still capable of sin.  They are Christians, but they are sometimes weak or foolish.   Remembering this keeps us dependent on God moment by moment.

Yes, God can cleanse us of our sins.  Yes, He can purify our hearts, and transform our desires.  But living a lifestyle of constant submission to God means that we are always willing to admit our weaknesses.  It is an attitude of humility. 

And when we have such an attitude, God is able to work wonders.  He keeps us safe, spiritually, as we find comfort in Him.

Psam 32:5

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself,  “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

New Living Translation

 

Guilt is too hard to live with.  It hurts.  But we don't have to live with it.  We can stop trying to hide, or deny, or blame others.  We can stop trying to cover it up with anger, or with addictions.  Instead, we can confess.

And when we do, God forgives.  It is gone.  We still remember, true.  Other people still remember, and sometimes the consequences of our actions linger.  But the crippling spiritual shame is taken away when we sincerely confess our sins to God, and ask for His forgiveness.  Thank You, Lord!

Psalm 32:3-4

3 When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.

4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

New Living Translation

 

Guilt is a horrible thing.  I often find myself feeling guilty.  Even for things that are not my fault.  If my kids, my husband, or a coworker are in a bad mood, I feel horribly guilty, sure that I have done something wrong.

It is even worse when I really am to blame.  Like when I say something unkind, and hurt someone's feelings.  Or when I forget something important, and let others down.  Or when I do something selfish.

Guilt takes its price.  It exhausts us, wears us down, eats away at our mental peace.  But we don't have to live with guilt.  There is a cure for it! 

We can hold on to it, refusing to admit our guilt.  We can try to ignore it, hoping it will just go away.  We can blame others for it.  But those things don't take the burden away, they only bury it.

The better option is to confess it.  Admitting our failures and accepting God's graceful forgiveness, combined with a commitment to learn from our failure and not repeat it, has the power to set us free from the guilt that makes our hearts so heavy. 

Psalm 32:1-2

1 Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

New Living Translation

God's grace is so great!  All of us have sinned, rebelled against Him and His law.  Even if we have been good people, lived a moral lifestyle, all of us have at least once, said, this time, I'm doing things my way. 

But God wants to clear our names, making us innocent.  He wants us to live in complete honesty. 

This honesty means that we will admit our sins, let Jesus cover them and forgive them, and then, committing ourselves to living God's way from this point on. 

What a great God!