Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
Observe: Paul has been contrasting throughout this whole chapter seen versus unseen. Our bodies (seen) with the life of Jesus in us(unseen). We are always looking at something, either temporal or eternal. Paul exhorts the church at Corinth to fix their gaze on the eternal for the temporal (our bodies) will soon be gone. Our troubles are temporal, but life in Jesus is forever. God is glorified when, in the midst of trouble, I focus on the eternal and not temporal.
Apply: When I am in trouble, what is my default mode? Do I start to panic? If I do, this is fear driven by the temporal and not eternal. If I am at rest when in trouble, this is focusing on the eternal. God is glorified as this shows the life of Christ in me.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to focus on you today as my eternal comforter, my eternal friend, my eternal healer, my eternal guide, my eternal teacher, my eternal provider. You are always going to be with me, I will never be abandon. I praise you today as the risen savior. Thank you for the cross. IJN, Amen
S: Luke 10:41-42 (AMP) 41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her. "
O: 1. Martha was busy serving Jesus. 2. Jesus didn't tell her to stop serving. 3. Jesus states that only 1 thing is necessary (or a few). 4. Mary was choosing the good portion (sitting at Jesus feet)
A: The things we do for God, for others, seem to be so urgent. Many of them get accolades from other people. But our time sitting at Jesus feet is invisible to others. I need to prayerfully reorder some of my priorities, especially for extended prayer time. This week, I want to have my prayer time as soon as my time in the word ends.
P: Lord, you know what I'm like. I like to accomplish, not sit. But Lord, I want my relationship with you to be the absolute center of my life. You are my highest priority, even though my activities may not be in line with this. Lord, forgive me for prayerlessness this last week. I love to spend time talking with you, be getting started is such a big obstacle, when I see all the work that needs to be done. Lord, help me, woo me, encourage me. As I take steps of obedience, help the habit of prayer to become as necessary to my daily liFe as eating and drinking. And convict me day by day and moment by moment when I "skip" my prayer time because of "pressing, urgent" things that I think need to be done. Lord, conform me to your image. Change my name to One thing Cindy. Amen.
Title: "Fix Your Gaze"
ReplyDeleteMentor: Paul
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."
Observe: Paul has been contrasting throughout this whole chapter seen versus unseen. Our bodies (seen) with the life of Jesus in us(unseen). We are always looking at something, either temporal or eternal. Paul exhorts the church at Corinth to fix their gaze on the eternal for the temporal (our bodies) will soon be gone. Our troubles are temporal, but life in Jesus is forever. God is glorified when, in the midst of trouble, I focus on the eternal and not temporal.
Apply: When I am in trouble, what is my default mode? Do I start to panic? If I do, this is fear driven by the temporal and not eternal. If I am at rest when in trouble, this is focusing on the eternal. God is glorified as this shows the life of Christ in me.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to focus on you today as my eternal comforter, my eternal friend, my eternal healer, my eternal guide, my eternal teacher, my eternal provider. You are always going to be with me, I will never be abandon. I praise you today as the risen savior. Thank you for the cross. IJN, Amen
Title: "Knocked Down, But not Alone"
ReplyDeleteMentor: Paul
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:9 "We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
Observe: Even if we have troubles, Jesus is always there.
Apply: To know that even when I am nervous, or sick or hurt, God is ALWAYS with me.
Pray: Dear God, help me to always know that you are with me even when I'm scared or sick or hurt.
ONE THING MARY
ReplyDeleteS: Luke 10:41-42 (AMP)
41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;
42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her. "
O: 1. Martha was busy serving Jesus. 2. Jesus didn't tell her to stop serving. 3. Jesus states that only 1 thing is necessary (or a few). 4. Mary was choosing the good portion (sitting at Jesus feet)
A: The things we do for God, for others, seem to be so urgent. Many of them get accolades from other people. But our time sitting at Jesus feet is invisible to others. I need to prayerfully reorder some of my priorities, especially for extended prayer time. This week, I want to have my prayer time as soon as my time in the word ends.
P: Lord, you know what I'm like. I like to accomplish, not sit. But Lord, I want my relationship with you to be the absolute center of my life. You are my highest priority, even though my activities may not be in line with this. Lord, forgive me for prayerlessness this last week. I love to spend time talking with you, be getting started is such a big obstacle, when I see all the work that needs to be done. Lord, help me, woo me, encourage me. As I take steps of obedience, help the habit of prayer to become as necessary to my daily liFe as eating and drinking. And convict me day by day and moment by moment when I "skip" my prayer time because of "pressing, urgent" things that I think need to be done. Lord, conform me to your image. Change my name to One thing Cindy. Amen.