When I think about this I am reminded that there are ways we get out of focus in our spiritual lives, too. I will be the first to admit that I have been feeling this way lately. Over the past three weeks I have struggled with this feeling. I have not been at church for three weeks and my devotional time has been lukewarm. I have found it hard to concentrate and my last blog post was three weeks ago. I have been feeling out of focus. It's an uncomfortable feeling and it leaves me a little irritable just like the issue with my eyes! This is when I know it is time to put myself at arms length just like my books and take a look at myself in a focused way. This is what I have discovered and some "prescriptions" to help you get back in focus.
It is very easy to fall into keeping yourself "busy" with all kinds of things the world has to offer. As I looked over the past three weeks trying to figure out why I was feeling this way I was appalled at the amount of time I had spent on the computer doing things like watching shows on Netflix, reading posts on Facebook, checking e-mail, pinning on Pinterest, and just surfing the Net. I don't consider any of these to be horrible activities but what I found is that I had gone overboard with the amount of time spent there. Plus, while doing these things I was not having a lot of interaction with my family and friends. That is a problem. We learn from Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians that some are confused about what they can and cannot do in certain situations in the early church. This is what he said, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23) We have to think carefully about the activities we do each day.
I believe very strongly that going to church every Sunday is not the key to getting into heaven or the thing that makes you have a strong relationship with God. I know people who are in church every week but never live their life outside those walls in a Christian manner. I find, though, that when I attend worship services regularly it builds me up for real life out in the trenches. I feel a fellowship with those around me when I am there. I get to sing praises to the one who redeemed me and I can be reminded of what God says to us in his Word. Some days I am comforted and some days I am challenged. It's easy to get caught up in "I'll just go next week..." and then find that several weeks have passed and soon not going becomes a hard habit to break. Sometimes I long for the days of the early Christians who met together daily. We are lucky in this day and age to have options to help us out when we do miss a day of church though. I like to listen to Christian radio. I also like going to the website of Proverbs 31 ministries and reading the articles and information they have there. Some people enjoy watching television ministries. God offers us lots of ways to hear his Word if we choose to do it. I do think that face to face relationships are the best, though. As my husband says, "The best days to go to church are the days we really don't feel like going!"
Another thing that I have allowed to take my focus is worry. When we are using our energy on the "what ifs" we have none left for what is important. This is one of the passages I prescribe for those who are dealing with this issue.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 12:22-34
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15
If you have been feeling out of sorts lately I suggest you take some time to stop and look at what has been happening in your life. Like me I am sure you will find areas that you need to think about and adjust. Let God help you get back into focus!
It is very easy to fall into keeping yourself "busy" with all kinds of things the world has to offer. As I looked over the past three weeks trying to figure out why I was feeling this way I was appalled at the amount of time I had spent on the computer doing things like watching shows on Netflix, reading posts on Facebook, checking e-mail, pinning on Pinterest, and just surfing the Net. I don't consider any of these to be horrible activities but what I found is that I had gone overboard with the amount of time spent there. Plus, while doing these things I was not having a lot of interaction with my family and friends. That is a problem. We learn from Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians that some are confused about what they can and cannot do in certain situations in the early church. This is what he said, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23) We have to think carefully about the activities we do each day.
I believe very strongly that going to church every Sunday is not the key to getting into heaven or the thing that makes you have a strong relationship with God. I know people who are in church every week but never live their life outside those walls in a Christian manner. I find, though, that when I attend worship services regularly it builds me up for real life out in the trenches. I feel a fellowship with those around me when I am there. I get to sing praises to the one who redeemed me and I can be reminded of what God says to us in his Word. Some days I am comforted and some days I am challenged. It's easy to get caught up in "I'll just go next week..." and then find that several weeks have passed and soon not going becomes a hard habit to break. Sometimes I long for the days of the early Christians who met together daily. We are lucky in this day and age to have options to help us out when we do miss a day of church though. I like to listen to Christian radio. I also like going to the website of Proverbs 31 ministries and reading the articles and information they have there. Some people enjoy watching television ministries. God offers us lots of ways to hear his Word if we choose to do it. I do think that face to face relationships are the best, though. As my husband says, "The best days to go to church are the days we really don't feel like going!"
Another thing that I have allowed to take my focus is worry. When we are using our energy on the "what ifs" we have none left for what is important. This is one of the passages I prescribe for those who are dealing with this issue.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 12:22-34
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15
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