7 Ways to Focus on God and Let Him Make All Things New in You

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In a world of chaos and corruption, we can change our focus to God. He promised that whatever we go through, He is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is always available and ready to hear our cries for help and our praises when He leads us through dark valleys. Here are seven ways to focus on God and not our trouble:

• Be grateful in every situation because it keeps hope alive.
• Do not be anxious. Rejoice in the Lord in every situation. Pray with thanksgiving and give your requests to God. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
• Preach the gospel to yourself. What have you learned about God lately? What promise has He fulfilled in your life? What Bible story speaks to your heart in times of trouble? Remember and remind yourself of the truth you have received. It is the anchor for your soul.
• Remember the hope you have in the power of the Resurrection. It is the same power alive in your life through the Holy Spirit.
• Forget the trouble of the past. Do not dwell on it. God says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).
• Let the newness fall into your heart. When Ezekiel prophesied against the enemy nations of Israel, He said of His people, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19).
• God can raise the dead things in you to new life. He asked Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And Ezekiel said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life” (Ezekiel 37:3-5). What is it in you that is dead and needs new life? A cold heart? A relationship? A dead-end job? Let God recreate Himself in you. He wants to give you a new heart and a new relationship – with Him. He wants you to have an abundant life with a plan, a purpose and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Prayer

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for hope and blessing that comes from you. Thank you for the newness of life, that we don’t have to hang on to hurt or trouble. Help us to surrender what is dead in us so you can make all things new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Rest

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Sometimes we get to the end of us. Then what? I like the picture of the woman resting from a mountain bicycle ride. It’s a picture of me, not just from exercise, when I need to rest. I shouldn’t be surprised when I find in the Bible that even God rested. “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:2-3).

Recently our family traveled seventeen hours on a cross country road trip (from Sacramento, California to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was done! I was grumpy! I needed rest. Have you felt that way from the stress of work? I have. So what happens when we get to the end of us?

Come to Me All Who are Weary

Jesus holds the answer to our being tired and weary. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). God never intended for us to be so tired we don’t know which end is up. In creation, He set a day of rest, the day He rested, the seventh day.

The good news is, we don’t have to wait til the seventh day. If we are weary in the middle of the week, we can surrender to God (not a sign of weakness), and experience His rest; peace that passes understanding. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ” (Philippians 4:7).

The Results of No Rest

Without rest, our weariness grows into grumpiness. It can even grow into anger, anxiety and malice. God knew it would be an issue for the human race, and He set standards in our lifestyle to take advantage of rest. We may think that we waste valuable time resting, but no time resting is wasted. After a short rest, we can move on and accomplish more than we imagined possible. Read Matthew 11:28-30 again, and rest in the presence of our God. He is faithful to refresh and restore us so we can keep on working, keep on serving, keep on showing compassion and hospitality, keep loving Him and people.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your provision of rest. Help us to pause long enough from our work to be refreshed by your amazing love, and strength and compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Streams of Living Water

Headwaters of the Jordan River

I spent this week at the hospital with my husband Dennis who had surgery Tuesday. Yesterday, Thursday, the doctor told him at 6:30 in the morning he could go home if he kept his breakfast down. He did not lose his breakfast, but we waited hour after hour for his release and left at 2:30 in the afternoon. My nerves were in shreds as I drove Dennis home. Then I went to the pharmacy to get his medications.

I am sorry to say that in my stress I did not go to God first, which made me more upset. When I got to the end of me, I cried out to God, “Please help me, Lord. Forgive me and give me your peace, the peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7). I fell asleep repeating this prayer over and over. I experienced sweet sleep and woke with the peace I desperately prayed for.

What do you do when you get to the end of you? I urge you to go to God. Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37). Think of the headwaters of the Jordan River, pictured above. Rushing water comes from high mountain springs and snow melt from Mt. Hermon. Too often in the troublesome moments we lose heart and don’t think to come to our Lord and Savior. James said, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).

When stress overwhelms us, we do not need a drink or a smoke or drugs. We need Jesus. He is a faithful Friend, and He can be trusted with whatever troubles us. I know because this morning I feel free and peaceful. I feel loved and comforted. All the worries I had over my husband were resolved. His bleeding has pretty much stopped and he can bathe himself (I was afraid I might hurt him if I did). As I write this post, he is sleeping like a baby.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for readers this morning, that you would give them peace from their stress and worry. Comfort them in their trouble and help them to experience your amazing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.