Change Your Focus

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:14 (NAS)

Have you ever seen a baby learn to walk?  Struggle, stand, step, stumble, repeat.  Human ability to achieve a goal is evident by the number of people strolling all over the world.

As adults we say, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."  Not only is that not the definition of insanity, nor was it a saying of Albert Einstein's, it's often used as an excuse to give up.  Apply that concept as it was intended: you can't expect your life to improve when you continue abusing substances.  In other situations, you have to realize that to reach your goals you have to put in the work.  Struggle, stand, step, and when you stumble, repeat.

So what is your focus, what is your goal?

If your goal is to be happy, your focus is on you, and you're on the road to narcissism.  If your goal is to make others happy, your focus is on others, and you'll be miserable because people are never satisfied.  When your goal is to make God happy, your focus is on Him, and everything that's not important fades out of view.  Your vision is sharp and your purpose is clear.

Serving God isn't always easy or fun, but when you keep your focus on Him, it's simple, and the rewards last literally forever.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrew 12:1-2 (NAS)

When you realize how big God is, you won't have to run away from your battles.  You won't want to.  You'll suit up in His armor and Run to the Battle.

Change the Filter

"and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,"  Ephesians 4:23 (NAS)

Negativity is all the rage right now.  Victimhood is a badge of honor, and anxiety and depression are in vogue.  If you're satisfied with that, read no further.  If you're ready for the alternative, gear up.

You feel unloved, not because no one loves you, but because you've been unloving. You feel unaccepted because you don't accept. You don't trust, not because others are dishonest, but because you are.  You're suspicious because you yourself have ulterior motives.  You're greedy not because others are selfish and stingy but because you are.

Once you have allowed Christ to change your heart and change your mind, blinders fall off your eyes and you see clearly.

When you allow God to love others unconditionally through you, you open yourself up to receive unconditional love.  Your motivation switches from trying to manipulate people, to a desire to get to know people.  When you live an honest life, you easily distinguish trustworthy people from deceivers.  You stop wasting energy trying to gauge everyone else because you're free from having to do so.  You give because you know you've been blessed, not because you judged someone as deserving.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."  Romans 12:2 (NAS)

If you're approaching life through the filter of your trauma, all you're going to achieve is more trauma.  Let God change your filter.