To lose weight and get in shape physically it really takes focus in life. You cannot lose weight without that being your daily, moment by moment focus. Every meal, every activity, every snack is determined by the FOCUS on losing weight... Practice this and you will lose weight, don't and you will simply play at it with very limited results....
The same is true in our spiritual walk. Play at it and see very limited results if any at all. But FOCUS your mind and heart on growing spiritually and you will!!!
Proverbs 23:7 says... as a man thinks in his heart so is he.
The word "thinks" in the Hebrew means "estimates, or considers" Teaching us that what we consider, estimate or FOCUS on is what we do or accomplish. As I reflected on the FOCUS involved in growing spiritually, I thought how many of us really plan to grow. Because it is termed spiritual, we think that it is all GOD's responsibility. We fail to grasp that we must be intentional in our walk with Christ.
We teach and have for several years Dave Ramsey's course "Financial Peace University" at our church. I highly recommend it to everyone who hasn't been though it. But one of the principles he teaches is that we be intentional in our financial life. IN Our savings, our spending and our planning. This is also true in our walk with Christ. Be Intentional. Be Focused.
How focused are you in your walk? How intentional are you in your actions? What changes have you made? What plans have you made and goals have you set??? None? Few? Well sadly, you are a normal American Christian. But let's understand this..... being normal is NOT good!! We need a moving of God in our midst like we've never seen. It will not happen if we are normal or typical?
So what is really wrong? Why aren't we focused on our spiritual growth? I believe it is because we are satisfied! Content with things as they are. A good word here would be comfortable..... Comfortable is good in many areas of life but in regards to our spiritual walk.... It is not good!
Have you ever ran a race or joined in a walk for some event or charity. I ran (I use that term run loosely) in a 5k at Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee, NC. I had planned, prepared as best I could and when the day came, I ran and finished my course. My focus throughout was to FINISH the race. To make it to the finish line. Which I did by the grace of God.... You know big men aren't designed to run for longer distances! So it was by HIS grace I did!!! I crossed the finish line and celebrated along with many others.
For a growing Christian....where is the finish line???? Is it being saved? Is it being baptized? Is it joining and serving in a local church ( a great thing)??? Is it reading the Bible through? All of these are great ideas and we should do them but NO they are not the finish line...... HEAVEN is the finish line for true believers. Only when we cross over have we completed the race..... How should we run our race???
Philippians 3:14... I press toward the goal....
The Greek word for PRESS means to pursue like we were chasing someone on foot. Imagine you and your family are out on a family getaway having a picnic. All your family is there including the smallest member of your family. In my case it would be Hadassah, my 3 month old granddaughter. Imagine that while we were enjoying our family time that a stranger ran up and grabbed her and ran off into the woods. What would be my response? I would run as fast, as hard, as determined as I could to catch them. I would not be deterred by anything trivial. I would not quit, give up or cease until I found her and dealt with him. My goal would be to catch and rescue my precious granddaughter. How hard I would pursue them is exactly the word God uses to describe how we should press toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Is that how you are pursuing Him in your spiritual walk? With all your heart, soul, mind and strength? I think not! Most of us have room to improve in this area. With so much to distract us and keep us from focusing on our spiritual walk and growth, we so easily lose our focus!!!
The first step (the rest will follow in future blog's) is to admit that you haven't arrived at the goal or finish line yet! Confess your complacency, satisfaction, contentment, laziness or whatever you choose to call it. Recognizing the need is the first step to finding the right FOCUS!!!! Spend some quality time allowing God to bring to mind each and every area where you have lost your focus. It could infect your family, marriage, finance and many others areas of life! Confess each one as the sin that they are! Prepare to make changes..... Follow through!!!!
You'll be glad you did!
Blessings
Bruce
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